Grass turtle

Fenchel, T., 1970. Studies on decomposition of organic detritus derived from the turtle grass Thalassia testudinum. Limnol. Oceanogr., 15 14-20. 

The estimated primary production (in terms of C content) for various aquatic ecosystems is shown in Table 3.3. Freshwater primary production, in lakes and streams, amounts to a little over 1% of total aquatic primary production. Phytoplankton account for c.95% of marine primary production, which totals c.40GtCyr-1, whereas coastal ecosystems make relatively minor contributions. Important macrophytes in intertidal zones include Rhizophora in mangrove swamps, turtle grass... 

On sedimented shores in temperate climates, sea grasses such as Zostera live subtidally or intertidally and may fix annually up to 1500 g C m . In tropical waters various marine grasses are important sublittoral producers. For example turtle grass (Thalassia) may have an annual productivity of 500—1500 g C m . The data for these statements are summarised in Table IV. 

Menzies, R.J. and Rowe, G.T., 1969. The distribution and significance of detrital turtle grass, Thalassia testudinata, on the deep-sea floor off North Carolina. Int. Rev. Ges. Hydrobiol., 54 217—222. 

Menzies, R.J., Zaneveld, J.S. and Pratt, R.M., 1967. Transported turtle grass as a source of organic enrichment of abyssal sediments off North Carolina. Deep-Sea Res., 14 111-112. 

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