17/08/2020
What role does seaweed 🌱 play in our oceans🌊?
We see it washed up along our shorelines all the time. Onlookers may see it as a nusance and an eyesore dried up on our coast but in reality it plays an integral role in the marine ecosystem. Seaweed or macroalgae as it is also called plays three distinct roles in the ocean ecosystem providing habitat and food to marine life while also regulating the acidicty levels of our oceans.
Habitat
Macroalgae are huge things. They can grow up to 30m tall. With this height comes with lots of nooks and crannies and shaded areas. This makes them the perfect home to small fish. These fish use the seaweed as a hiding ground from larger prey. The security that seaweed provides allows these small species to flourish and keep a healthy ocean biodiveristy.
Food
Seaweed is a vitamin and mineral jackpot, full of vitamins A and E, B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, iron, and iodine. Its also high in protein and fibre. This is why this superfood has become very popular in our diets with foods such as seaweed crisps, sushi rolls and even our very own Plantruption Seaweed Burger. Seaweed is the perfect source of nutirtion for fish allowing them to develop fully in our oceans. Its is especially popular with Pacific Blue Tang.
Purifies the ocean
One of the most inresteing functions of seaweed is its abilty to cleanse our oceans. Just like how our atmosphere becomes plagued with carbon emmsions, the ocean too absorbs some of this carbon. When carbon reacts with the ocean water it forms carbonic acid. The addition of this compound causes the oceans to become more acidic. This can have huge impacts for marine life. It softens the shells of scallops, weakens corals and confuses fish by disturbing their sense of smell. However macroalgae can help as they absorb more carbon than any other plant in the world. Marine forests can sequester up to 20 times more c02 per acre than land forests. Just like all plants, seaweed takes in Co2 and produces oxygen. Its cleanses the ocean of this carbonic acid restoring the alkaline level of the water and saving marine life.
Seaweed truly is an facinating plant.
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