An international team of researchers discovered that coastal urban seagrass ecosystems can significantly reduce human bacterial pathogens, including those with widespread antibiotic resistance, in marine bivalves — a vital food source for people around the world. 

 

The study, published Aug. 2 in the journal Nature Sustainability, sheds light on the significant role seagrass meadows play in their ecosystems. Not only do they serve as crucial habitats for marine life and contribute to biodiversity and clearer waters, but they also act as natural filtration systems, reducing bacterial pathogens in the surrounding waters. This is important because the current economic burden of human infectious diseases in marine environments is estimated at $12 billion annually. Furthermore, the looming threat of antimicrobial resistance, projected to cause over 300 million deaths and cost the global economy $100 trillion, underscores the urgency of such natural interventions.