{"id":5419,"date":"2024-09-13T19:14:18","date_gmt":"2024-09-13T19:14:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=5419"},"modified":"2024-10-24T19:13:08","modified_gmt":"2024-10-24T19:13:08","slug":"marine-organism-transforms-mediterranean-beaches-boosting-tourism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/marine-organism-transforms-mediterranean-beaches-boosting-tourism\/","title":{"rendered":"Marine Organism Transforms Mediterranean Beaches, Boosting Tourism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">The return of Amphistegina lobifera to the Mediterranean Sea is a silver lining in the face of climate change, turning rocky beaches into sandy tourist destinations and highlighting the dynamic relationship between human activities and marine ecosystems.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b0ffac9c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In an unexpected twist, a species of microscopic marine organisms, foraminifera (forams), is reshaping the future of coastal tourism in the eastern Mediterranean. Amphistegina lobifera, a single-celled organism known for its calcium carbonate skeletons, is transforming rocky shorelines into sandy beaches, offering a surprising economic boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pamela Hallock, a distinguished university professor of geological oceanography at the University of South Florida College of Marine Science, has dedicated her career to understanding the impacts of human activities on marine environments. Typically wary of the effects of climate change, Hallock found a glimmer of hope in her latest research. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThese forams have been increasing in numbers in suitable environments,\u201d Hallock, a corresponding author of the study, said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usf.edu\/marine-science\/news\/2024\/an-invasive-marine-organism-has-become-an-economic-resource-in-the-eastern-mediterranean.aspx\" title=\"\">news release<\/a>. \u201cNow they\u2019re so prolific that they\u2019re becoming an economic resource in regions with warm waters and high alkalinity because they\u2019re building beaches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The discovery stems from Hallock and her team&#8217;s research <a href=\"https:\/\/pubs.geoscienceworld.org\/cushmanfoundation\/jfr\/article\/54\/3\/237\/645566\/Why-Amphistegina-lobifera-a-tropical-benthic\" title=\"\">published<\/a> in the Journal of Foraminiferal Research. Forams like Amphistegina lobifera first made their way into the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal 60-80 years ago. Now, they are flourishing, particularly in the nutrient-poor waters of the eastern Mediterranean, and are moving westward. While their invasive potential has raised concerns, their impact on tourism is turning out to be remarkably positive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In countries such as Turkey, beaches that were once dominated by rugged volcanic and limestone rocks are now covered with up to a half meter of sand, primarily made up of dead foram skeletons and other shells. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe rate at which these forams are building beaches in the region is comparable to the rate of sea level rise,\u201d added Hallock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The significance of this transformation extends beyond the immediate economic boost from tourism. Amphistegina lobifera\u2019s ability to flourish in warm waters with elevated levels of CO<sub>2<\/sub> could indicate a broader ecological shift as climate change progresses. The genus Amphistegina, which emerged during a period of higher atmospheric CO<sub>2<\/sub>, thrives in environments with high alkalinity and temperatures, making current and future Mediterranean conditions ideal for their growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Interestingly, Amphistegina lobifera&#8217;s presence in the region could be seen as a return to its ancestral waters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThese are a kind of critter that previously inhabited the region,\u201d Hallock added. \u201cNow, through our influence on the environment, we\u2019re making the habitat once again suitable for them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This development offers a nuanced perspective on the ongoing interplay between human activities and marine ecosystems. As Hallock and her co-authors pondered in their study, \u201cMight this return of prolific shallow-water carbonate production ultimately prove at least locally beneficial as climate change progresses?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The findings underscore not just the adaptability of marine life but also the potential for unexpected benefits amid environmental upheavals, providing a poignant reminder of nature\u2019s resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In an unexpected twist, a species of microscopic marine organisms, foraminifera (forams), is reshaping the future of coastal tourism in the eastern Mediterranean. Amphistegina lobifera, a single-celled organism known for its calcium carbonate skeletons, is transforming rocky shorelines into sandy beaches, offering a surprising economic boost. Pamela Hallock, a distinguished university professor of geological oceanography [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-climate-and-environment"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"In an unexpected twist, a species of microscopic marine organisms, foraminifera (forams), is reshaping the future of coastal tourism in the eastern Mediterranean. Amphistegina lobifera, a single-celled organism known for its calcium carbonate skeletons, is transforming rocky shorelines into sandy beaches, offering a surprising economic boost. Pamela Hallock, a distinguished university professor of geological oceanography&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5419","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5419"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5419\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8434,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5419\/revisions\/8434"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}