Seagrasses, Nature’s Water Filter

In many systems, vegetated estuarine habitats such as salt marshes and seagrass beds act as a natural water filtration system—where sediment and nutrient-rich water flows in and cleaner water flows out. Seagrasses are capable of both increasing the pH and concentration of dissolved oxygen in the water overlying the seagrass.

Open
Tags: cultural services Ecosystem Benefits provisional services regulating services supporting services
Seagrasses, Nature’s Water Filter

Related Resources

A New Generation of Ocean Farmers are Reducing Pollution with Seaweed
 Seaweed soaks up carbon and nitrogen, two pollutants lingering in the water. If ocean farmers devoted a little less than 5 percent of U.S. waters to growing seaweed, they could clean up an estimated 1[...]
Tags: Ecosystem BenefitsKelpPollutionprovisional services
What is Ocean Acidification?
 The term ocean acidification is used to describe the ongoing decrease in ocean pH caused by human CO2 emissions, such as the burning of fossil fuels. It is the little known consequence of living in a [...]
Tags: Carbon EmissionsClimate ChangeGlobal carbon cycleOcean Acidification
Why is pH Important?
 pH is important for a wide range of industries from aquaculture to wastewater treatments that require an accurate pH reading, especially when it comes down to human safety. [...]
Tags: Carbon EmissionsClimate ChangeGlobal carbon cycleOcean Acidification
World’s first underwater climate strike calls for ocean protection
 Young Mauritian scientist and climate advocate, Shaama Sandooyea, has held the world’s first ever underwater climate strike at the heart of the Indian Ocean. The protest took place at the Saya de Ma[...]
Tags: climate activismClimate Justiceclimate stikeoceans
Marine Pollution Potentially Mitigated by Kelp Farms
 Emerging research from the University of Alaska Fairbanks suggests that implementing kelp farms may be an effective strategy for combatting the growing problem of marine pollution. The university stud[...]
Tags: Ecosystem BenefitsKelpKelp forestsPollution
2020 Was One of Three Warmest Years on Record
 The year 2020 was one of the three warmest on record, and rivalled 2016 for the top spot, according to a consolidation of five leading international datasets by the World Meteorological Organization ([...]
Tags: Carbon EmissionsClimate ChangeGlobal carbon cycleOcean Acidification
Despite Pandemic Shutdowns, Carbon Dioxide and Methane Surged in 2020
 Carbon dioxide levels are now higher than at anytime in the past 3.6 million years. Levels of the two most important anthropogenic greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide and methane, continued their unrelen[...]
Tags: Carbon CycleCarbon EmissionsClimate Changegreenhouse gasses
What Is Blue Carbon and Why Does It Matter?
 Though terrestrial forests typically get most of the attention, they are not the only ecosystems that possess a natural ability to fight climate change. There are three coastal ecosystems that are als[...]
Tags: Blue CarbonBlue ForestsEcosystem Benefitsmangroves