Tropicalization of seagrass macrophytodetritus accumulations and associated food webs

Seagrass, systems export significant amounts of their primary production as large detritus (i.e. macrophytodetritus). Accumulations exported macrophytodetritus (AEM) are found in many areas coastal environment. Dead seagrass leaves often a dominant component these accumulations, offering shelter and/or food to numerous organisms. AEM particular habitats, different from donor habitats meadow, kelp or macroalgae habitats) and with own characteristics dynamics. They have received less attention than despite the fact they connect place intense remineralization processes associated web. As for meadows themselves, potentially affected by global change tropicalization processes. Here, we review briefly general characteristic focus on Mediterranean Sea Western Australia provide some hypotheses concerning near future. We conclude that functioning could either through: (1) declines biomass loss directly due increased ocean temperatures herbivory tropicalized herbivores; (2) degradation processing within leading reduced export; (3) replacement temperate species smaller tropical species; (4) changes neighboring detritus. These will alter amount, composition, quality, timing frequency inputs into ecosystems rely trophic subsidies, which suitability habitat invertebrates.