Posidonia oceanica litter along the Mediterranean Coast of Egypt: Status and a preliminary assessment of nutrients and trace elements contents

Abstract Deposits of the endemic Mediterranean seagrass, Posidonia oceanica, are usually found covering the fronts of sandy beaches. In Egypt, these deposits are considered a source of nuisance and subjected to cleaning and eventually incineration. The current study provides the first report on the nature and distribution of P. oceanica deposits along the Mediterranean Coast of Egypt. In addition, we provide the first assessment of trace elements (TE), organic carbon (OC), and nutrient content of some of their banquettes. The results indicated that TE concentrations of P. oceanica litter and associated sediments and water are acceptable according to the international limits. The results also show that organic matter constituted \u003e10% DW of P. oceanica litter, and OC constituted 1.9% similar to that recorded for P. oceanica living tissue. A research strategy is needed to assess carbon stocks of P. oceanica meadows and their deposits along the Mediterranean coast of Egypt, in order to set strategies to mitigate climate change based on their carbon sink capacity. Local campaigns should be conducted to increase people\u0027s awareness of the importance of seagrasses to the environment and consequently to their livelihood.