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theflemface: Hey Tourists: Leave Those Shells on the Beach,...

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theflemface:

Hey Tourists: Leave Those Shells on the Beach, Would Ya?

by Susan Bird // January 21, 2014 // 6:00 am

It’s an innocent enough vacation activity. Everyone loves to stroll along the beach, collecting pretty seashells as mementos of a wonderful trip. It’s a peaceful and relaxing pastime, not to mention a little romantic. Well, stop. Just stop it.

That’s the recommendation of a new study which says that the global rise in tourism means that too many people are carting away too many seashells. Innocuous as shell collecting seems, this practice is actually harming beach ecosystems.

Tourism around the world has increased four-fold in the last three decades. According to the journal PLOS ONE, this vacationing surge has spurred noticeable global acceleration in the disappearance of shoreline shells. The study points an unforgiving finger squarely at tourists.

The loss of all these seashells leads inexorably to increased beach erosion and a marked decline in the abundance and diversity of organisms that rely on these shells, says the study.

“Shells are remarkable in that they serve multiple functions in natural ecosystems, from beach stabilization to building materials for bird nests,” lead study author Michal Kowalewski said in a press release.

How Researchers Narrowed it Down to Seashell Collectors

How can picking up simple seashells cause an ecosystem domino effect? The study, conducted on coastal Spain’s Llarga Beach from 1978 to 1981 and from 2008 to 2010, looked carefully at a variety of issues before coming to this conclusion.

During the period of the study, researchers from the University of Florida and the University of Barcelona surveyed Llarga Beach several times each month. By looking at hotel records in the area they determined that beach tourism increased by 30 percent. At the same time, the number of seashells on the beach dropped by more than 60 percent.

Shells, more plentiful in the winter when tourism was down, were significantly fewer in the summer when more beach visitors were present.

No other human-related factors appear to have influenced the shell loss. Llagra Beach proved a useful study site because it wasn’t altered by human activity appreciably in any way over the course of the multi-decade study. Additionally, researchers observed no environmental or ecosystem changes that would affect the number of shells one would expect to find on the beach.

Tourists are the primary cause of the seashell loss, the study concludes.

Why Shells Matter to the Marine Ecosystem

It might seem that seashells are merely the cast off protective armor of sea creatures that no longer need them. What’s the harm if people remove them from the beach and take them home? Quite a lot, potentially.

A wide variety of marine organisms depend on discarded seashells to survive. Sponges, seagrass, algae and other small organisms attach themselves to shells and live there. Fish use shells to hide from other sea creatures who want to eat them. Hermit crabs love to use empty snail shells as their own portable apartment homes.

Mollusk exoskeletons, such as clam and oyster shells, serve another important purpose. As they dissolve, they recycle calcium carbonate back into the ocean environment where it is ultimately used by other creatures to develop their own protective shells.

What Can Be Done?

“Although significant research has been done on the impacts of human activity on live shellfish, including, recreational harvesting and curio collecting, we are still lacking rigorous studies estimating the scale of shell removal by humans,” Kowalewski said.

While there are currently no studies on a worldwide level of this phenomenon, what’s concerning about this study is that coastal Spain’s Llagra Beach is only a small, marginally trendy vacation locale.

“Although a popular destination, the beach is not a major tourist hot spot, and the shells found there are not beautiful, diverse, or valuable to collectors,” Kowalewski noted. One can only imagine the amount of shells that must be disappearing from the major beaches and coastlines of the world.

Some countries already recognize the harm tourists can do if they remove too many shells. The Bahamas, for example, already limits the number of shells visitors may export. Perhaps more such limitations should be considered. The authors of this study certainly feel that way.

“Humans may play a significant role in altering habitats through activities that many would perceive as mostly harmless, such as beachcombing and seashell collecting,” Kowalewski said. “It is important that we continue to investigate the more subtle aspects of tourism-related activities and their impact on shoreline habitats.”

Imagine multiplying exponentially the level of shell losses documented at little Llagra Beach. Scientists say it’s worrisome.

Tourists, take note. Everything we do on vacation can have unintended consequences. Tread lightly. Leave nature alone. You don’t need those shells as much as marine creatures do.

h0odrich: trapcard: New Yorkers really be like “you need to take the 6 train transfer to the A...

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h0odrich:

trapcard:

New Yorkers really be like “you need to take the 6 train transfer to the A then transfer again to the x-y+8 train and ride it in reverse get off at the 6 and a half stop, drop through the man hole, speak to Master Splinter and defeat all the ninja turtles, then take a left and boom you are there!”
like girl I’ll take a cab.

good luck riding this 6 train you speak of its under construction weekdays and only functions local between 125 and 14 st between the hours of 2:25 and 2:30am due to construction on the tracks please plan accordingly

pizzaforpresident: YOU GUYS IT’S DECEMBER 10TH YOU DON’T...

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pizzaforpresident:

YOU GUYS IT’S DECEMBER 10TH YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND THIS HAS BEEN IN MY QUEUE SINCE FEBRUARY

bakrua: bakrua: if you are 13 and there is a 17/18 year old showing interest in you: please run...

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bakrua:

bakrua:

if you are 13 and there is a 17/18 year old showing interest in you: please run away and never look back. i understand that you feel special; that older person will tell you how mature you are and make you feel special. but please. run away from that person. stay away from them. they do not love you. an 18 year old should not have ANY interest in a 13 year old. please. please be safe. please do not let them manipulate you. they are dangerous. stay away from them

please reblog this post. please spread this message. please protect 13 year olds who can so easily be hurt.

jinglebellarus: fohk: total-trust: dogzzilla: OHH MY...

Me learning about important historical figures: oh hey I think I killed that guy in Assassin's Creed

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Me learning about important historical figures: oh hey I think I killed that guy in Assassin's Creed

medibangpaint: Don’t mind us. Just drawing some hair with the...


kimpissable: clevverbot: UH NO. EXCUSE ME BUT WHAT ARE YOU...

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kimpissable:

clevverbot:

UH NO. EXCUSE ME BUT WHAT ARE YOU DOING. DO YOU EVEN KNOW HOW TO FUCKING MAKE A BURGER

FIRST OF ALL, THE PICKLES ARE ALL ON ONE SIDE OF THE FUCKING THING, SO YOU’LL EITHER HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL YOU GET TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BURGER TO ENJOY THE PICKLES OR YOU’LL HAVE TO FACE THEM HEAD ON WHEN YOU START EATING IT

SECOND, WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU PUT KETCHUP DIRECTLY ON THE FUCKING PICKLES THEY’RE ALREADY SOUR ENOUGH, YOU’RE JUST GONNA HAVE A FUCKING OVERLOAD OF FLAVOR AND THOSE PARTICULAR BITES AREN’T GOING TO BE VERY GOOD

AND THIRD, THAT CHEESE IS NOT FUCKING CENTERED ONTO THE FUCKING BURGER YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE LIKE TWO OR THREE BITES WITHOUT CHEESE AND YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE LIKE FIVE BITES WITH TOO MUCH CHEESE BECAUSE IT’S NOT FUCKING CENTERED

I AM DISAPPOINTED SPONGEBOB FIRST YOU CAN’T EVEN FUCKING DRIVE RIGHT, NOW YOU CAN’T EVEN MAKE A FUCKING KRABBY PATTY RIGHT EVEN THOUGH YOU’VE BEEN DOING IT FOR 15 FUCKING YEARS
GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER

shhh the pickles are sleeping

Crayon Color Asks

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Bubble Gum: Gender?
Almond: Hair color?
Aquamarine: Eye color?
Asparagus: Birthday?
Cerise: First name?
Dandelion: Middle name?
Leather Jacket: Long or short hair?
Pink Sherbert: Short or tall?
Lavender: Braces?
Manatee: Smoker or non smoker?
Mountain Meadow: Drank or still drink alcohol?
Wisteria: Ever done drugs?
Emerald: Favorite thing about yourself?
Black Shadows: Something you're allergic to?
Denim: Any diseases?
Raw Umber: Sexual orientation?
Misty Moss: Kissed anyone other than family?
Outer Space: Had sex?
Shadow: Name of crush?
Smashed Pumpkin: Why you like the person you do?
Magic Mint: Number of people you dated?
Steel Teal: Longest time you've dated someone?
Thistle: Number of best friends?
Eggplant: Number of siblings?
Fuchsia: Number of pets?
Plum: Still live with parent(s)?
Razzmic Berry: Name of your mother?
Sonic Silver: Name of your father?
Sea Serpent: Both parents still alive?
Eucalyptus: Country you live in?
Salmon: Place you wish to live or visit?
Winter Sky: Number of days missed from school this year?
Mystic Maroon: Met anyone famous?
Dark Venetian Red: Dream job?
Radical Red: Aesthetic?
Malachite: Something you love?
Moonstone: Something you love the smell of?
Bittersweet: Favorite music artist?
Lemon Glacier: Favorite album?
Inchworm: Favorite song?
Scarlet: Favorite book?
Unmellow Yellow: Favorite TV show?
Wild Blue Yonder: Favorite movie?
Blue Bell: Favorite restaurant?
Medium Orange: Favorite fruit?
Mulberry: Favorite vegetable?
Canary: Favorite class in school?
Periwinkle: Favorite website?
Black: Favorite season?
Ruby: Favorite holiday?
Midnight: Favorite day of the week?
Maximum Purple: Favorite time of day?
Permanent Geranium Lake: Favorite flower?
Sea Green: Favorite animal?
Timberwolf: Movie theater or Netflix?
Blizzard Blue: Buying music or downloading from YouTube?

trevenant: when a pokémon region is being destroyed by criminals and natural calamity and the elite...

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trevenant:

when a pokémon region is being destroyed by criminals and natural calamity and the elite four is sitting around like

REBLOG IF YOU USED TUMBLR IN 2011 - 2013

bisexualcooper: you know what turns me on??? u kno what really gets me going?? when the overly...

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bisexualcooper:

you know what turns me on??? u kno what really gets me going?? when the overly cocky male chef gets chopped during the first round… that shit gets me hot and heavy

electric-firefly: {x} | Artist: [반동결]빙어 | Permission to Post ※...

thexostranger: “I’m personally not a fan”         ✓ OKAY “I don’t understand how you could possibly...

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thexostranger:

“I’m personally not a fan”
        ✓ OKAY
“I don’t understand how you could possibly enjoy something as lame as that”
        ✗ NOT OKAY


zeino-edits: saitama chill af

just-for-grins: I think the balloon is asking itself the same...

brigwife: killbenedictcumberbatch: Twilight may be trash but at least they cast actual native...

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brigwife:

killbenedictcumberbatch:

Twilight may be trash but at least they cast actual native americans to play natives

The Twilight franchise was basically a great cast all trapped in hell together

sscreamss: just because you don’t look like somebody who you think is attractive doesn’t mean you...

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sscreamss:

just because you don’t look like somebody who you think is attractive doesn’t mean you aren’t attractive. flowers are pretty but so are christmas lights and they look nothing alike

me a couple of years ago: i think my type is cute, nerdy boys, probably skinny, really adorable ;))))

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me a couple of years ago: i think my type is cute, nerdy boys, probably skinny, really adorable ;))))
me now: give me the biggest lumberjack you have
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