First description of seagrass distribution and abundance in Sao Tome and Principe

Seagrass meadows in Sao Tome and Principe, eastern Atlantic Ocean, are described here for the first time. Specifically, we quantified the biomass and density of seagrasses, characterized the plant morphology and measure their nutrient content as a proxy of the nutrient environmental conditions where the meadows develop. The seagrass Halodule wrightii was found in two locations of the northeastern coast of the island of Sao Tome: 1) developing throughout an estimated area of 1500 ha surrounding Cabras islet, at a depth range of 4-10 m, on sandy bottom; and 2) at Santana bay with an area of 1500 m(2) at 5-10 m depth, on sandy bottom. A highly morphologically different population of Halodule wrightii was found on the northeastern coast of the island of Principe, off Abade beach, covering an area of 135 m2 at 4 m depth. Further research is needed to assess if this is a different species. Shoot biomass and density was 10 and 4-fold higher in Sao Tome than in Principe, respectively. CN ratios of above and belowground tissues of plants collected in Sao Tome were also significantly higher than in Principe. The carbon content of Halodule leaves from Sao Tome and Principe (41%) was much higher than that reported for other Halodule species, suggesting that meadows may have an important ecological role for carbon fixation. The presence of H. wrightii in Sao Tome and Principe raises ecological and evolutionary questions that warrant further research.