Hey amigos! Did you hear about what's happening in Finland's coastal waters? 🌊 It's a bit worrying, so let's dive into it!
Finland's coastal habitats are facing significant biodiversity loss, and experts are sounding the alarm. ⚠️ Some key species like bladder wrack, eelgrass, and the blue mussel are declining, which isn't great news for the ecosystem.
\"The diversity of invertebrates that form the basis of food webs in the coastal waters of Finland is inherently relatively low, which makes the ecosystem particularly vulnerable,\" said Associate Professor and co-author of the report, Christoffer Boström.
Basically, if one species disappears, there's no backup to fill its role! 😯 That's like your favorite band losing a member and nobody can replace them. 🎸
The Finnish Nature Panel studied changes in the coastal marine environment and found 45 different forms of biodiversity loss. Yikes! The main culprits? Eutrophication and climate change. 🌍
Eutrophication sounds fancy, but it's just when too many nutrients (like phosphorus and nitrogen) end up in the sea from things like agricultural run-off and wastewaters. This leads to algae blooms that can harm marine life. 🌱➡️🌊
\"None of Finland's coastal water areas are in good condition in terms of eutrophication,\" said Henri Sumelius, project researcher and lead author of the report.
But it's not all doom and gloom! The Nature Panel recommends stronger protection of marine areas and prioritizing nature in decision-making. It's time to step up and protect these unique ecosystems! 💪🌿
So, why should we care? Coastal ecosystems help with carbon and nutrient sequestration, oxygen production, and they support productive fish stocks. Plus, they're home to species found nowhere else in the world! 🐟❤️
Let's spread the word and make a change. After all, we're all connected by the same oceans! 🌐🌊
Reference(s):
Report: Worrying biodiversity loss in Finnish coastal waters
cgtn.com
