Why Your Pristine Beach Might Be Bad News For Its Ecosystem

Heads in the sand.

A perfectly manicured coastline may be inviting on the surface, but a new study suggests a constant combing could spell big trouble for its smaller inhabitants. According to Bloomberg, 67% of the state’s coast could be completely eroded by the end of the century if the trend continues.

“Grooming and filling, primarily intended to beautify the sand for human recreation, is altering the biodiversity of beach ecosystems, according to new research from University of California, Santa Barbara’s Marine Science Institute. Urban beaches with heavy traffic had about half as many native insects and crustaceans than did reference beaches, the study found. The removal of wrack, such as kelp and seaweed, can also be detrimental to local species that rely on it for food and shelter, according to lead author Nick Schooler.

These impacts could contribute to regional losses of biodiversity and degrade ecological stability, resilience and function of these widespread coastal ecosystems, he adds.”

Is the damage irreversible? Read more here.