Runoff from land can be an important source of energy for organisms and animals along the coast
by Sissel Eikeland , University of Adger
July 18, 2023
“In the past, we’ve heard that runoff and drainage from land is bad for the ocean. Now we see that it can also be an important resource,” Juan Pardo says. He is PhD student in the Centre for Coastal Research (CCR) at the University of Agder.
In the study, Pardo and colleagues look at the relationship between organisms that live at the bottom of the ocean and organic material from land, among other things.
“Especially the animals and organisms that live entirely at the bottom of the sea get energy from waste or degradable material such as plants, animals, and human activities,” he says.
Physical, chemical, and biological factors play a decisive role in the formation of ecosystems.
“Organisms on the seabed are important for the marine ecosystem. They play an important role in the carbon cycle. They also contribute to diversity and serve as food for small fish and other prey,” Pardo says.
The marine organisms help to bind and store carbon, which is important for the functions of the marine ecosystem.
Read the Ecosphere paper: https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecs2.4492