Seagrass species abundance and zonation along the Old Tampa Bay transects has remained relatively stable over the period of monitoring, 1998 to 2000. There were only minor changes in species abundance and zonation at all transects for the five seagrass species. Generally, T. testudinum and S. filiforme are more commonly found on transects located on the eastern side of the bay and H. wrightii generally dominates the species composition on the western side.

H. wrightii was the dominant seagrass found on transects located in Hillsborough Bay. Prior to 1999, H. wrightii was most abundant on the southeastern Hillsborough Bay transects, however, between 1999 and 2000, substantial meadows appeared to be developing along transects located along the Interbay Peninsula in the southwestern portion of the bay.

Between 1998 and 2000, H. wrightii appeared to decline along transects located in eastern Middle Tampa Bay. However, there was a slight increase of T. testudinum abundance on the four transects located between the Little Manatee River and Piney Point, including Cockroach Bay. Generally, H. wrightii is the dominant seagrass species in the northern section of Middle Tampa Bay. T. testudinum and S. filiforme are more commonly found on the transects located in the middle and south sections of this bay subsection.

Seagrass abundance along the transects located in Lower Tampa Bay remained relatively stable between 1998 and 2000, however, minor thinning was noted for T. testudinum along four transects in eastern Lower Tampa Bay. T. testudinum is generally the dominant seagrass species found on the transects in the Lower Tampa Bay proper.

Minor changes in seagrass abundance were noted along the transects located in Boca Ciega Bay between 1998 and 2000. H. wrightii, dominated seagrass species in the northern section of the bay and T. testudinum generally was prevalent in the southern portion.

Results from the Tampa Bay transect monitoring program indicate two major areas with recent and notable changes in seagrass coverage. Seagrass coverage increased along the southeastern Interbay Peninsula as H. wrightii meadows developed between 1998 and 2000. In contrast, a loss of H. wrightii was noted along eastern Tampa Bay from southeastern Hillsborough Bay to Piney Point between 1999 and 2000.

The interagency seagrass monitoring program has proven that multiple agencies with a common goal can effectively combine their resources to generate valuable scientific information that will assist in the protection and restoration of Tampa Bay seagrass meadows.