Posidonia oceanica - Life cycle

Posidonia oceanica - Life cycle

Summer

Winter

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Posidonia oceanica represents the submerged habitat with the biggest distribution of the marine ecosystems in the coast of the Pitiusas islands. Without a doubt, it is an important species with high ecological value. It forms meadows that cover and structure the sea bed. Over the years, it creates a natural reef. This reef serves as a shelter, food and reproduction site for a high diversity of plants and animals (approximately 400 spp. of plants and 1.000 of animals). Controls the erosion of the coast line at different levels:

• In shallow waters, the reef-barriers have a filtering function that maintains the sedimentary equilibrium of the coastline.
• The dead leaves floating in the water reduce the force of the waves.
• The bed banks located on the beach hold the sand avoiding its loss during storms.

Posidonia oceanica is a superior plant that belongs to the group of flowering plants adapted to marine environment. It has roots, stem, leaves, flowers and fruits like terrestrial plants. Its life cycle generates landscape changes, due to their stages of flowering, fruiting and renewal of leaves. Posidonia oceanica grows mainly on soft bottoms between the break zone and 40 m depth approximately. It is the main source of supply of oxygen to the Mediterranean, producing between 4 and 20 liters of oxygen per square meter in a day. l

Spring

Autumn

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