Intertidal Monitoring of Eelgrass (Zostera noltii) Beds in Carmarthen Bay 2004 dataset https://portal.medin.org.uk/portal/start.php?tpc=007_NRW_DS102036 The seagrass Zostera is a flowering plant typically found in sheltered areas with a muddy / sandy substratum. Zostera beds are of significant ecological importance in that they support a diverse community of infaunal and epibenthic species, algal and epiphytic species and provide refuge and feeding sites for fish and crustaceans (particularly juveniles). Furthermore, Zostera beds are an important food source for wildfowl (e.g. Brent geese). Zostera beds can be an important factor in coastal defence. The root networks stabilise the sediment, while the plants encourage sedimentation through sediment particle trapping and a certain degree of wave attenuation. This together with their role in supporting commercially valuable fish and crustacean species means that Zostera beds are also of economic importance. However human activity in the coastal zone (pollution, dredging boat mooring etc) can affect its distribution or even destroy the beds completely. The purpose of this data capture was to determine and map the extent, density and condition of Zostera noltii identified in previous years at Llanrhidian Sands and Penrhyn Gwyn in the Burry Inlet, record any damage or disease of the Zostera, record the presence of epiphytes and ephemeral algal species on the beds, record the presence of mussel crumble, and develop an index of damage. 20090131