Coastal ecosystems are multidisciplinary research topics encompassing the structure, function, and dynamics of biological communities and physical environments at the land–sea interface, including salt marshes, mangroves, seagrass meadows, tidal flats, estuaries, rocky shores, and coastal dunes. Scientific study focuses on biogeochemical cycles, primary productivity, trophic interactions, sediment transport, and hydrodynamic forcing (tides, waves, currents) that shape habitat distribution and resilience. Research also examines nutrient loading, contaminant fate, habitat fragmentation, and climate-driven stressors such as sea-level rise, ocean acidification, and warming, often integrating remote sensing, numerical modeling, and long-term ecological monitoring to quantify ecosystem services and assess vulnerability to anthropogenic impacts.
A study provides the first large-scale empirical evidence that seagrass meadows act as a critical safety net for millions of coastal people living in extreme poverty across the Indo-Pacific.
Environment
Sep 3, 2026
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19
A new study published in Communications Earth & Environment, with contributions from researchers at the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), shows that higher seawater temperatures could significantly reduce ...
Earth Sciences
Aug 20, 2026
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70
Global mangrove cover—vegetation vital to tackling climate change—has increased over the past 40 years, despite significant losses in some key regions, according to a new analysis.
Earth Sciences
Aug 20, 2026
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9
For a blue mussel, a good meal does not come entirely without risk. Blue mussels feed by filtering microscopic algae from seawater. But some unwelcome guests can slip in along with their food. Tiny parasite larvae can hitch ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 19, 2026
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10
Mangroves are perplexing plants. They breathe through their roots, appear to stand on stilts and grow best in hot, salty seawater drawn in and out by the tide.
Environment
Aug 6, 2026
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21
Seagrasses are among the most important foundation species in coastal ecosystems, providing habitat for marine life, stabilizing sediments and helping improve water quality. Yet nearly 20% of the world's historic seagrass ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 4, 2026
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9
People might be more inclined to keep their community clean if they believe it benefits them personally, according to new research from the University of Georgia published in Environment and Behavior. The study found that ...
Environment
Aug 3, 2026
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10
An international study led by Curtin University has put to bed a scientific debate dating back 176 years, confirming that two historically significant oyster species from Western Australia and Fiji are distinct species.
Ecology
Aug 3, 2026
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8
Along the Gulf Coast, black skimmers have long been a familiar sight—gliding just above the water with their bright orange beaks slicing through the surface to feed.
Plants & Animals
Jul 31, 2026
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27
As the U.S. looks to expand domestic seafood production, a new University of Miami study argues that long-term competitiveness will depend on how well fisheries can withstand climate-driven disruptions. The study comes as ...
Agriculture
Jul 29, 2026
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7
