Articles tagged with Seagrasses
Researchers found significant accumulation of PVC and polystyrene in seagrass sediments since the 1930s, indicating a dramatic increase since the 1970s. This pollution can potentially lead to microplastic exposure for animals grazing on or living in the sediment.
A study published in Scientific Reports reveals that Posidonia oceanica seagrass can trap and remove significant amounts of plastic materials from coastal areas. Researchers estimate that up to 867 million plastics could be caught per year, with a density of 1,470 plastics per kilogram of plant fibre.
Researchers found high levels of plastic debris trapped in seagrass litter and fibers, suggesting that seagrass meadows can facilitate marine plastic removal from the sea. The study estimates that Mediterranean seagrass meadows may trap up to 867 million plastic items each year.
A long-term monitoring study shows seagrass restoration has substantial increases in fish and invertebrate abundance, water clarity, and carbon and nitrogen trapping. The project demonstrates a blueprint for restoring and maintaining healthy ecosystems to safeguard multiple benefits.
A new study reveals that seagrass loss in Australia has led to a 2% increase in annual carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to 5 million cars per year. The research highlights the vital role seagrass meadows play in mitigating climate change and urges preservation and restoration of these ecosystems.
Seagrass meadows provide valuable ecosystem services, including carbon storage, fish nurseries, and storm protection. However, their decline threatens global food security and biodiversity, with an estimated 7% of seagrass habitat lost worldwide each year.
New research finds that virus infection rates in lobsters are related to their habitat, with seagrass meadows showing a protective effect against the spread of disease. The study's findings support efforts to safeguard Caribbean spiny lobster populations and boost understanding of viral dynamics.
Research reveals that seagrass species have evolved a winged seed trait that harnesses underwater currents to hold it on the seafloor for rooting. This adaptation allows seeds to maintain their position until they can grow anchoring roots, providing valuable insights for seagrass restoration efforts.
Scientists at Clemson University found diverse bacterial communities inside clams that contribute to a balanced ecosystem. The study showed that higher microbial diversity is linked to healthier seagrass environments, with implications for fisheries and lobster farming.
Researchers used fossil shells to estimate the age of seagrass meadows, revealing that they are remarkably stable over time, persisting in the same spot for hundreds or thousands of years. The study highlights the importance of seagrasses as critical long-term reservoirs of biodiversity in coastal ecosystems.
A new study has developed statistical tools to help manage seagrass habitats, which provide shelter, food, and oxygen for at-risk species. The research provides key monitoring and management designs to maximize seagrass resilience to human activities.
New research quantifies seagrass' ability to dissipate wave energy and protect vulnerable shorelines. Seagrass meadows can trap fine sediment, reducing eutrophication and promoting marine life.
Scientists investigate how tropical species are adapting to the newly formed pass in St. Joe Bay, a critical ecosystem with seagrass meadows and diverse marine life. The research aims to understand potential changes in seagrass consumption and its impact on juvenile fish, crabs, and shrimp.
A comprehensive analysis of over 11,000 coastal-habitat measurements confirms the nursery function of mangroves and seagrasses, providing key guidance for marine resource managers. The study also finds that other structured habitats, such as coral reefs and oyster reefs, support greater juvenile abundance, growth, and survival.
A 20-million-year-old tusked sea cow, Culebratherium alemani, has been discovered in Central America, shedding light on the region's ancient marine ecosystem. The fossilized skeleton, found near the Panama Canal, provides evidence of seagrass presence in the area during that time period.
Researchers found that seagrass beds are effective in holding sediment on beach foreshores, reducing erosion. The study's results suggest that healthy seagrass beds can be a sustainable option for coastal defense, opening opportunities for new protection schemes.
A study calls for a shift in focus from coral reefs to seagrass meadows as they face increasing threats from climate change and human activities. Seagrass conservation is crucial for global fisheries production, carbon cycle, and coastal ecosystem health.
A recent study reveals that eelgrass meadows store significant amounts of organic carbon, comparable to tropical seagrass species and mangroves. The distribution area of these meadows has decreased by at least 1/3rd over the past 50 years, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts.
A team of scientists is using a holistic approach to understand the causes of eelgrass wasting disease, deploying drones, artificial intelligence, and geographers to survey seagrass beds across 36 sites from San Diego to Alaska. The project aims to unravel why some eelgrasses fall victim to the disease while others resist it.
Researchers emphasize the importance of seagrass conservation in securing a sustainable planet due to its role in biodiversity, fisheries, and carbon cycling. Seagrasses store significant amounts of carbon in their sediments, supporting local ecosystems and potentially mitigating climate change.
Researchers found that seagrass meadows can buffer ocean acidification in short-term periods, particularly during low tide and daylight hours. While limited, this effect could benefit marine life and aquaculture endeavors, but long-term solutions rely on reducing carbon emissions.
New research found that moving fish farms away from seagrass meadows can boost their growth and health. The study, led by the University of Plymouth, showed that seagrass limits increased at a rate of 1.2-9cm per year in areas with reduced fish farming impact.
Seagrass meadows support global fisheries production by providing nursery habitat, promoting health of connected habitats, and supplying trophic support. However, the coastal distribution of seagrasses makes them vulnerable to threats such as land runoff and trawling, leading to declines in seagrass and fisheries.
Researchers from Swansea University and Deakin University have discovered vast deep-water seagrass meadows in the Great Chagos Bank of the Western Indian Ocean. The study used satellite tracking to locate these habitats, which are critical for storing carbon and supporting fish populations.
Seagrass meadows in Indonesia are under threat due to environmental degradation, with up to 90% of meadows showing extensive damage. Community-led conservation action and replanting initiatives have shown promise in mitigating the problem.
Researchers studied ocean acidification's effect on an estuarine seagrass habitat in Puget Sound, finding that CO2 levels reduce the habitat's ability to withstand natural fluctuations. However, high CO2 levels projected by 2100 are locally mitigated by the seagrass habitat.
Researchers found that daily variability in harmful CO2 indices is twice as fast as the average, impacting shell-building animals like oysters and mussels. The study provides an important framework for evaluating other seagrass and estuarine habitats.
Researchers estimate that Shark Bay has the largest carbon stores reported for a seagrass ecosystem, containing up to 1.3 percent of the total carbon stored in seagrass soils worldwide. The loss of seagrass at Shark Bay after the 2010-2011 marine heat wave released up to 9 million metric tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.
The loss of seagrass meadows at Shark Bay has released up to nine million metric tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to the annual CO2 output of 800,000 homes. Seagrass ecosystems are crucial for storing carbon, and climate change is compromising their permanence.
The National Academies' Gulf Research Program has awarded $5.3 million to seven new projects focused on enhancing environmental restoration outcomes. Five projects aim to develop or test new monitoring and evaluation methods, while two focus on improving decision-maker access to public health risk information resulting from oil spills.
A QUT-led study found that cumulative maintenance dredging can increase risks on seagrass survival, but shorter dredging programs are unlikely to impact seagrass. The research developed a risk modelling approach to predict how resilient seagrass meadows will be under different environmental conditions.
Researchers found that seagrass meadows are globally extensive fishing habitats, with significant impact on daily food supply and livelihoods in developing countries. The study highlights the need for recognition of seagrass habitats' value in supporting fisheries.
Research highlights seagrass meadows' role as crucial fishing grounds worldwide, supporting daily food supply and livelihoods. The study emphasizes the need for sustainable management of these ecosystems to mitigate the 'tragedy of the seagrass commons',
A UC Davis study reveals that seagrass biodiversity is essential for effective restoration, outperforming single-species approaches. Planting mixtures of diverse species improves survival and growth rates, highlighting the importance of ecosystem complexity.
A new study by QUT researchers has developed an advanced statistical model to predict when dredging is least likely to damage seagrass. The model can provide up to a fourfold reduction in recovery time and up to a 35 per cent reduction in local extinction risk for seagrass species.
Researchers discovered key limitations to seagrass growth from seed to seedling stage, which could improve restoration efforts. The study found that exposure to waves and grazing animals significantly reduced seed survival rates.
Researchers found that microbes associated with native species provide resistance to invasion, while those with invaders break down this resistance and may poison native plants. The study suggests a new way to restore the balance of microbial communities in sediments to reduce the risk of invasive marine species.
Researchers have found that swinging boat moorings damage seagrass meadows in the UK and globally, leading to a direct loss of at least 6 ha of United Kingdom seagrass. The impact results in fragmented meadows and reduced resilience to other stressors.
A new study reveals that seagrass meadows can reduce bacteria pathogenic to humans and marine life by up to 50%. The presence of seagrasses also reduces the prevalence of disease in corals located nearby, with field surveys showing a 2-fold decrease in disease compared to coral without seagrass neighbors.
New research reveals that seagrass meadows can combat bacteria in water, reducing disease associated with marine organisms. The study found lower levels of disease on reefs with adjacent seagrass beds than those without nearby grasses.
A study by the University of Southern Denmark reveals that Thurøbund's protected and productive bay stores a record amount of carbon, with an average of 27,000 grams per square meter. This exceeds global estimates of seagrass meadow storage, highlighting the importance of preserving these ecosystems.
Research finds that boat mooring chains in Western Australia's Rottnest Island are destroying seagrass meadows at an alarming rate. The seagrass absorbs carbon dioxide at a faster rate than tropical rainforests, making its destruction a significant threat to the environment.
A fully sequenced seagrass genome reveals insights into marine ecosystem adaptation to climate warming and salt tolerance. The study provides a valuable resource for advancing research on carbon sequestration and plant breeding.
This comprehensive genome analysis of Zostera marina provides unique insights into the genomic losses and gains involved in adapting to full marine conditions. Seagrasses have regained functions enabling them to adjust to salinity, a key innovation for these plants.
The seagrass genome has been sequenced, revealing evolutionary changes that enabled plants to thrive in the marine environment. The findings have significant implications for food security, climate change, and marine conservation.
Seagrasses are unique flowering plants adapted to marine life, providing insights into climate warming and carbon burial. The Zostera marina genome reveals key adaptations, including rearranged metabolic pathways and different signalling mechanisms.
Seagrasses thrive in acidic waters near underwater volcanic vents, potentially increasing their ability to absorb carbon from the ocean. However, climate change also poses risks to these ecosystems, highlighting the need for further research.
Seagrasses can protect themselves from toxic sulphide by creating an oxygen shield around their roots and converting it into beneficial nutrients. However, seagrasses cannot tolerate sulphide under all circumstances, especially when stressed, leading to loss of detoxification ability and death.
Seagrass ecosystems rely on small marine invertebrates to graze algae, keeping habitats clean and healthy. A recent study found that diverse communities of these animals are essential for maintaining robust seagrass populations.
Researchers from University of Southern Denmark and University of Copenhagen explain the mysterious ocean circles off the Baltic coast, revealing a toxic substance that inhibits eelgrass growth. The circular formations are formed when eelgrass plants trap mud containing sulfide, which weakens older plants in the center.
Biologists have developed a new technique to determine if seagrasses contain sulfur, indicating stressed seabeds. This method reveals the health state of plants, aiding restoration efforts for lost or diminished seagrass meadows.
A University of Tennessee professor is leading a research project to study lucinid clams, which play a crucial role in detoxifying coastal environments. The study aims to uncover the genetic, taxonomic, and functional diversity of modern lucid chemosymbioses and their responses to environmental changes.
A new study by researchers at Virginia Institute of Marine Science shows that denser seagrass beds hold exponentially more juvenile crabs per square meter than more open beds. The quality of seagrass habitat can influence the population dynamics of blue crabs on a baywide basis.
A study found that sea otter recolonization led to an increase in grazing invertebrates, which kept algae growth under control and allowed seagrasses to recover. The findings suggest that restoration of entire food webs may be necessary for coastal habitat recovery.
These tiny crustaceans feed on nuisance algae that grow on seagrasses, helping to maintain healthy seagrass beds and provide nurseries for commercially important fish and shellfish. Grazers also serve as a food source for larger animals in the ecosystem.
A recent study published in Marine Ecology Progress Series has found that fish, terrapins, and birds play a crucial role in dispersing eelgrass seeds into new areas. The research suggests that animals can disperse seeds up to 10 miles, rivaling the distances achieved by physical mechanisms.
A new study reveals that fish play a crucial role in recycling nutrients, providing fertilizer for sea grass and algae growth. The research found that fish populations around reefs can cause significant changes in ecosystem productivity.
Researchers found that seagrass beds store up to 19.9 billion metric tons of carbon globally, more than temperate and tropical forests. Seagrasses can store up to twice as much carbon per unit area, mostly in their soils.
Smithsonian researchers found fossil evidence of three to four species of seacows living together in different time periods, suggesting unique food sources and habitat structures. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of seacow habitats and raises questions about competition for resources.
Researchers found genetically identical clones of Posidonia oceanica seagrass in Mediterranean meadows, suggesting they are thousands of years old and have adapted to various environmental conditions. The findings raise concerns about the continued survival of this long-lived species.