Endangered Plants in the Ocean

As humans continue to develop coastal areas and destroy the habitats of marine plants, the plants decline in number. They also face threats from climate change and ecosystem imbalance. From small algae to tall mangrove trees, the variety of marine plants on Earth decreases with time. No conservation efforts exist for some of these endangered plant.

The Asian surf grass occurs in limited numbers in Korea and Japan. It also used to grow in northern China, but has disappeared from the area due to the establishment of kelp aquaculture. The species continues to decline in number because of coastal development and shoreline hardening. It also faces threats from dynamite fishing in Japan. Cultivation of Asian surf grass proves to be difficult because it needs specific conditions to develop.

Since its first discovery in 1934 at depths of 12 m and 27 m at Post Office Bay, Floreana, Galapagos Islands, Gracilaria skottsbergii has never been identified again. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, people are likely to overlook or misidentify the species even if spotted. Without fertile material, even experts are unable to make definitive identifications. A type of red algae, Gracilaria skottsbergii is unlikely to persist in the area where it was originally discovered. The species is likely to decline in numbers due to El NiNo and climate change. Other algal populations in the area also have declined because of over-grazing by sea urchins and other herbivores.

A rare mangrove tree, Bruguiera hainesii used to grow throughout South Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Singapore. As of 2010, only about 200 mature trees are known to grow in Malaysia, Singapore and Papua New Guinea. Mangrove areas in its distribution range have declined by at least 27 percent from 1980 to 2005. The Bruguiera hainesii faces threats from coastal developments to make way for agriculture, urbanization, transport infrastructure and tourism. The tree takes 18 months to mature and could reach a height of up to 98 feet.

The seagrass Zostera chilensis occurs on rocky and sandy layers in protected shorelines at depths of between 3 to 23 feet. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species estimates that the population only grows in one location in Chile and continues to decline in number. The species faces threats from developments in its small coastal area. As of 2010, no known conservation measures exist for Zostera chilensis.