Everything in nature is interconnected. What happens in a particular place can have consequences not only in the immediate vicinity, but even on the other side of the planet. An international research team found that: Extermination of invasive species on land could lead to ‘impressive’ developments at sea. that’s why they argue Restore islands affected by exotic plants and animals. They think this is the best way improve the marine environment and at the same time, increase resilience to climate change.
“The islands are home to unique communities of plants, animals and humans not found anywhere else on Earth. local and global stressors It threatens the persistence of island ecosystems, and invasive species are among the most damaging, but soluble, stressors,” the authors said.
Although the threat of invasive land mammals to the island flora and fauna is well known, recent research suggests that they are also “extensive and devastating effects on adjacent marine environments” takes the work.
” eradication of invasive mammals and restoration of natural biota “promising tools to address both island and ocean management goals” highlights scientists, who include Americans, New Zealanders and the UK.
Experts analyzed thousands of studies and indeed Eliminating invasive species and restoring island ecosystems also has significant benefits in underwater environments..
Study of “connector types”
In what they call ‘one of the keys’.connector types“The paper, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy, details land-ocean-dwelling seabirds, seals, turtles, and those that transport nutrients from the oceans to the islands and vice versa, such as sea snakes or crabs,” the scientists’ (PNAS) scientists said. We must help them by restoring their habitats,” he stresses.
linking efforts on land, including extermination of invasive mammals The islands should offer with marine restoration and protection benefits multiplied “To achieve concurrent global conservation goals,” he said.
“A sustained investment in onshore and offshore monitoring planning tools based on science integrated land-sea management“, they point.
“Conservation experts at work addressing the effects of climate change, ocean stressors and biodiversity crisisIt’s critical that we maximize returns on management investments,” the report says.
They also advocate the inclusion of “long-standing human knowledge of island communities through diverse perspectives of the ecological and environmental sciences.”
Scientists predict ‘impressive’ results if it works properly:Carefully chosen conservation actions on the islands can lead to truly surprising changes in the neighboring ocean ecosystem, because everything is interconnected.‘, says Penny Becker of Island Conservation, a co-author of the study.
Examples are seabirds that catch their prey at sea and then deposit their food on the islands through excrement, carcass, eggs and other reproductive material, as well as feathers and molt.
The more seabirds, the more fish
Binder species also disturb the soil through burrowing, burrowing and other physical activities, mixing nutrients into the soil and in some cases providing aeration.
Conversely, nutrients of terrestrial origin are released into the sea, for example, when land crabs spawn. Also, expressions foods on land, they can be transferred to the sea through precipitation runoff and other hydrological connections, making the near-shore environment productive.
The scientists documented a 27-fold difference in organic nitrogen in stream waters between islets with and without nesting seabirds. In Palmyra Atoll in the central Pacific, due to the enormous secretion of these binder species.
Researchers found that The greater the presence of seabirds on an island, the greater the number of fish in the nearby marine environment.However also faster growing and more climate-resistant coral reefs.
But seabird populations are declining rapidly worldwideand in most cases this relates to entry to the islands. human activity, from non-native mammals such as mice or other rodents that raid burrows, pigs, or goats. All this leads to the extinction of some bird species.
Loss of populations of these linker species is often ecosystem collapse on both land and sea“, warn authors who demand immediate action on all tools to reverse these situations.
Reference report: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2122354119
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