The Impact of Human Activity on Coastal Zones with Elise Granek

In this episode of PDXPLORES, Professor Elise Granek discusses the coastal zone- transition zones between land, sea, and atmosphere. These ecosystems provide vital ecological, cultural, and commercial benefits. Around the world, they are home to a vast number of species, support critical industries, and sustain the cultural heritage of the people who have called them home. As with all ecosystems, they are vulnerable. Given the intense human dependence on the continued viability of these coastal ecosystems, understanding the impact of human activity on the species that inhabit them is essential to identifying solutions to address the suite of impacts. What are the sources of contamination? What are the potential outcomes for the species impacted by pollutant exposure? And what can be done at the individual, community, and policy levels to mitigate the adverse effects of human activities on these ecosystems?

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