Tiger sharks in the Bahamas have helped lead scientists to a large seagrass habitat, which is described as one of the biggest of its kind on Earth. The discovery was highlighted in a short promotional video from BBC Earth, showing how the predators' movements pointed researchers toward the underwater meadow.
Seagrass meadows are important for ocean biodiversity, providing shelter and feeding grounds for a wide range of marine life. The clip notes that these meadows also help protect coastlines from storms, acting as a natural buffer that can soften the force of waves. They additionally absorb carbon from seawater, which makes them relevant to efforts to slow climate change.
The material comes from #FixingThePlanet, a digital series from BBC Earth sponsored by Speed and Scale. The Short is a teaser rather than a scientific paper, so it does not give the size of the habitat, its precise location, or quantified figures for how much carbon it absorbs or how far it shields the coast. The presenter, James Stewart, points viewers to a full film that explores other seagrass protection efforts around the world.