Watch Where You Step!
Monday, March 12, 2012 - 05:20
in Biology & Nature
Researchers from Australia's Sunshine Coast have found that beach-dwelling invertebrates are negatively impacted by the presence of people--probably because of heavy foot traffic that harms both the habitat and the animals themselves. Although these species are small, they are an important part of the ecosystem, linking the terrestrial and marine environment by cycling nutrients and serving as prey. Thus, in order to preserve the ecosystem function of beach habitats, we may need to develop regulations limiting certain aspects of beach use.Map of Australia's Sunshine Coast read more