New article: "Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Enhances Density and Diversity of Epifaunal Invertebrates Compared to Filamentous Mats in the Central Baltic Sea"

Coastal bottom vegetation is home to a large number of invertebrates and shellfish. In the Baltic Sea, which has major problems with eutrophication, large floating algae accumulations form, which have a negative impact on bottom vegetation but can also benefit animal species. The project investigated the importance of bottom vegetation and algae blooms for animal life. Their conclusion is that, unlike bottom vegetation, algae blooms only benefited the occurrence of snails.

Rising temperatures and eutrophication make it more important to protect bottom vegetation in order to maintain a rich animal life.

Chiara D’Agata, Thomas A. B. Staveley, Johan S. Eklöf, Jonathan S. Lefcheck, Gunilla Rosenqvist, Lina Mtwana Nordlund – Ecology and Evolution: “Submersed Aquatic Vegetation Enhances Density and Diversity of Epifaunal Invertebrates Compared to Filamentous Mats in the Central Baltic Sea”