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Per Moksnes

Date
Saturday 15 May 2021 -
11:00 to 12:00

Seagrasses are unique in the marine environment in being flowering plants with an origin from plants on land. In contrast to algae, they have the ability to anchor themselves to sandy or muddy bottoms where they can form dense meadows that play important roles in coastal ecosystems. The meadows create a living space for many small animals and algae and constitute important nursery habitats as they also provide shelter and food for young stages of fish. Seagrasses, therefore, increase both the production and biodiversity of plants and animals where they grow. They also dampen the wave energy and stabilize the bottom, which decreases sediment erosion, creates clear water, and allows the meadow to store large amounts of organic material rich in carbon and nutrients in the sediment.

This marine plant is important to humans because it provides them with several important ecosystem services, including mitigation of climate change and eutrophication.

Unfortunately, seagrasses are very sensitive to disturbance as they often grow close to human activities and are dependent on clear water conditions for survival. In the last century, they have decreased in distribution at an alarming rate all around the world, with large negative effects on the coastal ecosystems as a consequence.

In the present talk, Per Moksnes will use the eelgrass ecosystems in Sweden to exemplify the many different values of seagrasses, why they are threatened, and what can be done to protect them and help them come back, including new methods for eelgrass restoration. 

Per Moksnes is a senior lecturer in marine ecology and coastal management at the University of Gothenburg. His research focuses on the ecology and conservation of coastal environments, especially seagrass ecosystems.

In English without interpretation.

The event will be broadcast live online in front of the audience in the hall at Sofia Tech Park and streamed on Ratio’s Facebook page.

Dedicated to the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

In partnership with Ratio.

Due to the epidemic situation, changes in the programme may occur – both in the dates and times of the events and in the mode of delivery (digital or live). Please follow the festival page for the latest information.

Sofia Science Festival

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Sofia Science Festival