The Hudson River Estuary marshes have been increasing in size, showing a remarkable resilience. But that’s not the only surprise: the marshes also appear to have been created by accident.
The arrival of the railroad and associated structures in 1850 along the banks of New York’s Hudson River Tidal Estuary in several areas created the conditions for marshes to form. Credit: the Dams and Sediment in the Hudson project.
Conservationists love tidal marshes. For starters, they’re excellent carbon sinks, but they also provide numerous services, from supplying rich habitats and biodiversity to protecting shorelines against erosion. These areas also tend to absorb and trap pollutants from water. In recent times, however, the world has been losing its tidal marshes as an effect of human activity. But human activity can also create marshes, researchers note in a new study.
More than half of Hudson River tidal marshes were created accidentally by humans phys.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from phys.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.