Zostera marina, or eelgrass, grows intertidally and in the shallow subtidal of estuaries, bays, and other protected coastal areas of the ecoregion. It is a flowering plant, not an alga, and often occurs in dense beds. It helps prevent erosion and maintain stability near shore by anchoring sediment with its spreading rhizomes and slowing water flow. Eelgrass beds also provide foraging, breeding, and nursery areas for many species of invertebrates, fish, and birds. This file aggregates data from many sources across multiple years; see supplemental info.