What is a coast and its importance - Iczmpwb.org
What is a coast and its importance - Iczmpwb.org
What is a coast and its importance - Iczmpwb.org
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Threats to seagrass ecosystem<br />
Natural threat<br />
• Damage to seagrass groups <strong>is</strong> mostly due to climatic changes, global warming which in turn refers<br />
to changes in oceans salinity levels, shift in water quality, increase in sea surface temperatures,<br />
frequency of natural d<strong>is</strong>asters, <strong>and</strong> more.<br />
• Seagrasses are in global decline, with some 30,000 km 2 (12,000 sq mi) lost during recent decades.<br />
Anthropogenic threat<br />
• Coastal activities such as ports, harbours, construction, garbage dumps, urban pollution, industrial<br />
dumps, terrestrial erosion, <strong>coast</strong>al development, breakwaters, f<strong>is</strong>h farming, aquaculture,<br />
eutrophication, siltation, dredging, anchoring, are taking heavy toll on the fragile plants.<br />
Pollution<br />
• Excessive input of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus) <strong>is</strong> directly toxic to seagrasses, but most<br />
importantly, it stimulates the growth of epiphytic <strong>and</strong> free-floating macro- <strong>and</strong> micro-algae. Th<strong>is</strong><br />
weakens the sunlight, reducing the photosynthes<strong>is</strong> that nour<strong>is</strong>hes the seagrass <strong>and</strong> the primary<br />
production results
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