New York’s underwater forests are disappearing due to pollution, extreme weather

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has documented the sharp drop of seagrass, which scientists call submerged aquatic vegetation, since 1997. Similar surveys have found decreases in the Long Island Sound and along the Jersey Shore. The long tendrils of underwater greenery are a vital food source for birds and serve as protective cover for juvenile fish. Experts say human pollution and extreme weather are driving the seagrass's decline, which threatens the fragile underwater ecosystem.