erinhilbrands
Seashells
This photo was taken on Wrightsville Beach on 3/18/17. Seashells are extremely important for maintaining the health of a beach. However, as summer approaches, many tourists who visit the beach usually take multiple shells with them when they leave. Decreasing the number of seashells on beaches has detrimental effects. Shells have many ecological functions such as providing protection for hermit crabs, materials for bird nests, and nutrients (calcium carbonate for example) for the organisms that live on the shore when they break down. They also provide surfaces that some algae, sponges, and some sea grasses can cling to. Removing seashells from beaches can also lead to increased erosion.
Seashells
This photo was taken on Wrightsville Beach on 3/18/17. Seashells are extremely important for maintaining the health of a beach. However, as summer approaches, many tourists who visit the beach usually take multiple shells with them when they leave. Decreasing the number of seashells on beaches has detrimental effects. Shells have many ecological functions such as providing protection for hermit crabs, materials for bird nests, and nutrients (calcium carbonate for example) for the organisms that live on the shore when they break down. They also provide surfaces that some algae, sponges, and some sea grasses can cling to. Removing seashells from beaches can also lead to increased erosion.