Aussie ecologists urge to conserve coastal seaweed for migrating sea birds

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SYDNEY, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Australian ecologists urged coastal communities to embrace the sometimes unwelcome seaweed for migratory seabirds on Monday, one day before World Oceans Day.

Ecologists from the University of South Australia (UniSA) said sea wrack plays a vital role for many migratory seabirds, but sometimes it was not welcomed and removed for aesthetic reasons.

In the study published by the Journal of Applied Ecology, researchers showed that while tidal seaweed may seem unsightly, it provides shelter and a range of microclimates in addition to food that will ensure the survival of many shore-bird species.

Specifically, sea wrack, as a reverse-cycle air conditioner, creats cooler conditions when the weather is hot and warmer conditions when it is cold, helping seabirds regulate their body temperatures. They forage, rest and roost in the older, dryer wrack, which is warm throughout most of the day.

"Shore birds move between the different wrack types depending on the prevalent weather conditions. This helps them conserve and build sufficient energy stores for successful migration and reproduction in overseas breeding grounds," UniSA researcher Tim Davis said.

However, Davis said people may see beach-cast sea wrack as an "eye-sore."

"Australian beaches are renowned for stretches of golden sand. It's one of the main drawcards for tourists, so it's not altogether surprising that beachside destinations tend to favour a seaweed-free coastline."

Currently, Australia has no guidelines for harvesting wrack and once sea wrack is removed, then so too are the habitats of these sea birds, which can have a devastating impact on their populations, according to Davis.

Beach-cast wrack was also removed from many beaches worldwide, either for aesthetic reasons to increase tourism, for fertilizers, or to extract alginate for applications in the food and beverage industry, and the biomedical and bioengineering fields.

Researchers said councils, residents and tourists must be educated about the ecological role of sea wrack and how significant impact removing it from beaches can have on the environment and the survival of bird species.

Davis said that sustainable management of all aspects of coastal environments is essential to conserve the livelihoods of the species that rely upon them.

"Until a code of practice is established, our coastal ecosystems will remain under threat." Enditem

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