Heterozostera chilensis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Heterozostera chilensis faces severe decline due to coastal development and port expansion activities that directly destroy its shallow marine habitats. Water pollution from agricultural runoff and urban discharge degrades water quality in the estuaries and coastal lagoons where this seagrass species grows. Climate change-induced sea level rise and increased storm intensity further threaten the stability of its intertidal and shallow subtidal environments along the Chilean coast.
Habitat
Heterozostera chilensis inhabits shallow marine environments including estuaries, coastal lagoons, and protected bays along the Chilean coast. This endemic seagrass species grows in sandy and muddy substrates in intertidal and shallow subtidal zones, typically in areas with reduced wave action and brackish to marine water conditions.
