The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™

ISSN 2307-8235 (online)

IUCN 2008: T173342A6995080

Halophila beccarii, Ocean Turf Grass

Assessment by: Short, F.T. et al.

View on www.iucnredlist.org

Short citation: Short, F.T. et al. 2010. Halophila beccarii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
2010: e.T173342A6995080. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T173342A6995080.en
[see full citation at end]

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Taxonomy
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family

Plantae Tracheophyta Liliopsida Hydrocharitales Hydrocharitaceae

Taxon Name: Halophila beccarii Asch.

Common Name(s):
• English: Ocean Turf Grass, Species code: Hb

Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria: Vulnerable B2ab(iii)c(ii,iii) ver 3.1

Year Published: 2010

Date Assessed: March 17, 2007

Justification:
Halophila beccarii has an Indo-Pacific distribution which is patchy and fragmented. The global
population trends indicate this species is declining, although it is fast-growing and may recover quickly
from disturbance. However, it also has a narrow, restricted depth range right at the intertidal zone which
is an area where there is a lot of anthropogenic disturbance. Due to its specific habitat requirements
and narrow depth range, its area of occupancy is estimated to be less than 2,000 km². Major threats
include storms, coastal development, habitat destruction, mining and dredging, mechanical damage
from boats of boats, pollution, sedimentation and aquaculture. There is a continuing decline in habitat
quality and population fluctuations due to these threats. This species is listed as Vulnerable under
criterion B2.

Geographic Range
Range Description:
Halophila beccarii has a disjunct and fragmented distribution in the Indo-Pacific. In the Pacific, it is found
from southern China to Singapore, Sarawak (Malaysia), and the northwestern Philippines. In the Indian
Ocean, it occurs from Malaysia, throughout the Bay of Bengal and along the west coast of India.

Country Occurrence:
Native: Bangladesh; China; India; Malaysia; Myanmar; Philippines; Singapore; Sri Lanka; Thailand; Viet
Nam

FAO Marine Fishing Areas:

Native: Indian Ocean - eastern, Indian Ocean - western, Pacific - northwest, Pacific - western central

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Halophila beccarii – published in 2010. 1
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T173342A6995080.en
Distribution Map

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Halophila beccarii – published in 2010. 2
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T173342A6995080.en
Population
Global population trends for Halophila beccarii are declining.

Halophila beccarii is common in intertidal areas in Bangladesh and India. It is common in seaward
mangroves and lagoons in Malaysia and Thailand and in mud flats and seaward mangrove areas in
China. The population is thought to be stable in Thailand. It is also stable in India, and in some places is
increasing. The population is decreasing in Malaysia due to competition with Halodule pinifolia and
habitat loss from mangrove destruction and coastal development.
Current Population Trend: Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)

Halophila beccarii is found in the upper intertidal zone and grows on mud or muddy sand substrates in
estuarine and coastal areas. This species is fast-growing with large seed production. It is a colonizing
species. This species flowers year round and has annual and perennial populations in Malaysia and
Bangladesh. In India, it acts as a pioneer species in the succession process leading to mangrove
formation.

This species has a narrow, restricted depth range right at the intertidal zone. It has a wide salinity
tolerance (euryhaline) and can recover quickly from disturbance, such as increased sedimentation.

This species is one of two in the oldest lineage of seagrasses, and therefore has a high evolutionary
value (i.e., living dinosaur).

Systems: Marine

Threats (see Appendix for additional information)

Halophila beccarii is susceptible to a number of threats due to its very narrow restricted habitat in the
intertidal zone.

Major threats to Halophila beccarii include destruction from cyclones, waves, intense grazing and
infestation of fungi and epiphytes. Other threats include mangrove destruction, coastal development
such as construction of harbours or jetties, ponds for shrimp farming, mining (Philippines, Thailand and
Malaysia), sand dredging for landfills and anchoring and moving of boats, discharge of sediments,
untreated sewage disposal, and aquaculture.

Areas where this species occurs are often rich in molluscs, thus this species can be threatened during
mollusc harvesting, and other types of harvesting that use pull-nets.

Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information)

Halophila beccarii has no specific conservation measures. It is often protected when it is present in
mangroves in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

Recommended conservation measures are to control the impacts from coastal development, mangrove

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Halophila beccarii – published in 2010. 3
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destruction, and building aquaculture farming (particularly shrimp ponds).

Credits
Assessor(s): Short, F.T., Coles, R., Waycott, M., Bujang, J.S., Fortes, M., Prathep, A., Kamal,
A.H.M., Jagtap, T.G., Bandeira, S., Freeman, A., Erftemeijer, P., La Nafie, Y.A.,
Vergara, S., Calumpong, H.P. & Makm, I.

Reviewer(s): Livingstone, S., Harwell, H. & Carpenter, K.E.

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Halophila beccarii – published in 2010. 4
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T173342A6995080.en
Bibliography
Green, E.P. and Short, F.T. 2003. World Atlas of Seagrasses. University of California Press, Berkeley.

IUCN. 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2010.3). Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org.
(Accessed: 2 September 2010).

Kuriandewa, T.E., Kiswara, W., Hutomo, M. and Soemodihardjo, S. 2003. The Seagrasses of Indonesia. In:
E.P. Green and F.T. Short (eds), World Atlas of Seagrasses, pp. 171-182. University of California Press,
Berkeley, California.

Citation
Short, F.T., Coles, R., Waycott, M., Bujang, J.S., Fortes, M., Prathep, A., Kamal, A.H.M., Jagtap, T.G.,
Bandeira, S., Freeman, A., Erftemeijer, P., La Nafie, Y.A., Vergara, S., Calumpong, H.P. & Makm, I. 2010.
Halophila beccarii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T173342A6995080.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T173342A6995080.en

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External Resources
For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Halophila beccarii – published in 2010. 5
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T173342A6995080.en
Appendix

Habitats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Major
Habitat Season Suitability
Importance?

9. Marine Neritic -> 9.5. Marine Neritic - Subtidal Sandy-Mud - Suitable -

9. Marine Neritic -> 9.6. Marine Neritic - Subtidal Muddy - Suitable -

9. Marine Neritic -> 9.9. Marine Neritic - Seagrass (Submerged) - Suitable -

9. Marine Neritic -> 9.10. Marine Neritic - Estuaries - Suitable -

12. Marine Intertidal -> 12.4. Marine Intertidal - Mud Flats and Salt Flats - Suitable -

12. Marine Intertidal -> 12.7. Marine Intertidal - Mangrove Submerged - Suitable -
Roots

Threats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Threat Timing Scope Severity Impact Score

1. Residential & commercial development -> 1.1. Ongoing - - -

Housing & urban areas
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

1. Residential & commercial development -> 1.2. Ongoing - - -

Commercial & industrial areas
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.4. Marine & Ongoing - - -

freshwater aquaculture -> 2.4.3. Scale
Unknown/Unrecorded
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

3. Energy production & mining -> 3.2. Mining & Ongoing - - -

quarrying
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

4. Transportation & service corridors -> 4.2. Utility & Ongoing - - -

service lines
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

4. Transportation & service corridors -> 4.3. Shipping Ongoing - - -

lanes
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation
2. Species Stresses -> 2.2. Species disturbance

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Halophila beccarii – published in 2010. 6
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5. Biological resource use -> 5.4. Fishing & harvesting Ongoing - - -
aquatic resources -> 5.4.6. Motivation
Unknown/Unrecorded
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

7. Natural system modifications -> 7.3. Other Ongoing - - -

ecosystem modifications
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

8. Invasive & other problematic species & genes -> Ongoing - - -

8.2. Problematic native species
Stresses: 2. Species Stresses -> 2.3. Indirect species effects ->
2.3.2. Competition

9. Pollution -> 9.1. Domestic & urban waste water -> Ongoing - - -
9.1.1. Sewage
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

9. Pollution -> 9.1. Domestic & urban waste water -> Ongoing - - -
9.1.3. Type Unknown/Unrecorded
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

9. Pollution -> 9.2. Industrial & military effluents -> Ongoing - - -

9.2.3. Type Unknown/Unrecorded
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

9. Pollution -> 9.3. Agricultural & forestry effluents -> Ongoing - - -

9.3.2. Soil erosion, sedimentation
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

9. Pollution -> 9.3. Agricultural & forestry effluents -> Ongoing - - -

9.3.4. Type Unknown/Unrecorded
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

11. Climate change & severe weather -> 11.4. Storms Ongoing - - -
& flooding
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

Conservation Actions in Place

(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Conservation Actions in Place

In-Place Land/Water Protection and Management

Occur in at least one PA: Yes

Conservation Actions Needed

(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Conservation Actions Needed

1. Land/water protection -> 1.1. Site/area protection

2. Land/water management -> 2.1. Site/area management

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Halophila beccarii – published in 2010. 7
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Conservation Actions Needed
5. Law & policy -> 5.1. Legislation -> 5.1.2. National level

5. Law & policy -> 5.1. Legislation -> 5.1.3. Sub-national level

Research Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Research Needed
1. Research -> 1.2. Population size, distribution & trends

1. Research -> 1.6. Actions

3. Monitoring -> 3.1. Population trends

Additional Data Fields

Distribution
Estimated area of occupancy (AOO) (km²): 2000

Lower depth limit (m): 0

Upper depth limit (m): 0

Population
Population severely fragmented: Yes

Habitats and Ecology

Generation Length (years): 1

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Halophila beccarii – published in 2010. 8
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T173342A6995080.en
The IUCN Red List Partnership

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership.

The IUCN Red List Partners are: BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International;
Conservation International; Microsoft; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of
Rome; Texas A&M University; Wildscreen; and Zoological Society of London.

THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™