Researchers calculate the value of bivalves’ appetite for pollution. It’s huge.
Oysters and clams are some of nature’s most efficient feeders: these shellfish slurp up gallons of water, sieving out food and nutrients as they go, and repurposing some of those raw materials to make their shells.
Now researchers have calculated that if coastal cities and towns planted beds of these industrious bivalves along the urban edge, they could save councils several million dollars in clean-up costs associated with nitrogen pollution – all thanks to the water-purifying power of shellfish gills.
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About The Author
Emma Bryce
Emma Bryce is a journalist based in London. As well as Anthropocene, her work has appeared in The Guardian, Wired Magazine UK, Audubon Magazine, The New York Times, Ensia, and Yale e360.
