The marine ecosystems include various sub-ecosystems full of differentiated types of life. Considering coastal ecosystems, the three hugest ones can be highlighted: sunlit rocky coasts, sandy beaches, and salt marsh ecosystems. Sunlit rocky shores are extreme habitats for marine life. Such systems are characterized by powerful waves, strong winds, and constant tides that can affect water availability. The specific types of marine life vary by geographic location. Still, some kinds of flora and fauna found on the rocky shore include seaweed, lichens, birds, crabs, hedgehogs, mussels, snails, sea limpets, ascidians and sea anemones, and sea lions (Gaylard et al., 2020). The main negative impact of human activities on these ecosystems is the drastic change in oxygen levels caused by industrial pollution (Gaylard et al., 2020). It can lead to the extinction of many aquatic animal populations.
Most the sandy beaches are exposed to the negative impact of human activities. Biologists identify two main negative consequences of coastal processing (Armitage et al., 2021). Vehicles used for refining can crush organisms or rake up washed-up seaweed, which is food and shelter for many species (Armitage et al., 2021). Imported sand, which tends to be coarser, can be unsuitable for some tiny organisms to survive. Like those on a rocky shore, animal ecosystems on a sandy beach must adapt to an ever-changing environment. Organisms need to cope with tides, wave action, and water currents that can sweep animals off the beach and move sand and rocks. Typical marine life includes seaweed, plankton, invertebrates, crabs, molluscs, worms, snails, flies and plankton, and fish.
Salt marshes are essential ecosystems in providing habitat for marine life and migratory birds, which are important nurseries for fish and various invertebrates. These ecosystems protect the rest of the coast by buffering wave action and absorbing water during high tides and storms. Examples of salt marsh flora and fauna include seaweed, plankton, birds, and Pisces. This ecosystem is affected by the atmosphere and other ecological changes caused by human activities. For example, the carbon balance is damaged due to the production wastes of different factories (Alongi, 2020). As a result, the air-sea CO2 circulation is impaired.
Reference
Alongi, D. (2020). Carbon balance in salt marsh and mangrove ecosystems: A global synthesis. Marine Science and Engineering, 8(10), 1–21. Web.
Aritage, A., Defeo, O., Elliott, M., McLachlan, A., & Pittman, J. (2020). Sandy beach social–ecological systems at risk: regime shifts, collapses, and governance challenges. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 19(10), 564–573. Web.
Gaylard, S., Lavery, P., & Waycott, M. (2020). Review of coast and marine ecosystems in temperate Australia demonstrates a wealth of ecosystem services. Marine Conversation and Sustainability, 7(453), 1–13.