Tag: Marine ecosystem

While it's a common misconception, kelp is not the sole ingredient of seaweed; in fact, kelp is a large type of brown seaweed. This means that while all kelp is a form of seaweed, not all seaweed is kelp. The term seaweed is a broad, umbrella category that includes over 10,000 species of marine macroalgae, ranging in color, size, and habitat.

Over 70% of coral reef surface area is covered by crustose coralline algae, a type of calcified marine alga, highlighting their foundational role in marine habitats. But what are calcified sea algae, and how do these intriguing organisms create their hard, reef-building structures? They are a diverse group of marine organisms that absorb minerals from seawater to create rigid structures that are crucial for ocean health.

According to a 2024 study published in *Ecology & Evolution*, researchers discovered well-preserved, dead anisakid worms in decades old canned salmon that had been part of a quality control archive. These are the primary parasites one might find in such long-expired products, though they pose no health risk due to the canning process.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, krill have been harvested for human consumption since at least the 19th century. Humans can consume krill, but it is not a common food source globally and is primarily used in certain regions and as a dietary supplement. Safe consumption requires specific preparation to remove potentially toxic fluoride from the exoskeleton.

Kelp forests are one of the planet's most productive and dynamic ecosystems, generating an estimated $500 billion annually in ecosystem services. Understanding the importance of kelp reveals its crucial role in supporting marine life, mitigating climate change, and providing economic and health benefits to humanity.

Suspension feeders account for almost a quarter of all known aquatic species, utilizing a diverse range of mechanisms to capture food particles. What are the advantages of suspension feeding that have made it such an overwhelmingly successful and widespread survival strategy in aquatic environments across numerous phyla?

According to research published in *Ecology & Evolution*, tiny anisakid worms are commonly found in wild salmon, and they have been observed in canned salmon dating back decades. While finding a worm may be unsettling, the commercial canning process uses high-heat sterilization that effectively kills any parasites present, making the fish safe to eat.

Despite being a flowering marine plant, seagrass contains a high concentration of cellulose that is indigestible to humans. While the leaves are not suitable for our diet, the question of 'can you eat seagrass?' reveals a more complex answer that includes historical foraging practices and the edibility of specific parts.

Humans harvest less than 1 percent of the total krill population, and only a fraction of this catch is directly consumed. The answer to what percentage of krill is being eaten by humans is surprising, as most of this tiny crustacean's harvest fuels a global supply chain beyond our dinner plates.

An estimated one to two trillion krill live in the world's oceans, making these small crustaceans a highly abundant food source that has gained attention as a potential 'superfood'. Yet, the question remains: should humans eat krill directly or as a supplement, and what are the implications?