Zostera marina, or eelgrass, is an ecologically important species of marine angiosperm in coastal North America. This species of seagrass provides a home for many species of fish and other marine organisms. Zostera is declining throughout much of its range, including here in Great Bay, NH. We are examining how pollen delivery varies across the edges of meadows, to assess whether lack of pollen is contributing to this decline. We used molecular DNA markers, called microsatellites, to assess pollen diversity and compare across meadows. These data provide an insight into the dispersal patterns of Zostera and what may be hindering their resilience in Great Bay.
