Nature's cry: Mucilage in the seas!

As mucilage, also known as "sea saliva", has come to the fore again in recent days, experts say that microscopic creatures that produce a significant part of oxygen have caused a great environmental disaster.

Noting that the Marmara Sea announces the approach of disaster with the mucilage event, Molecular Biology and Genetics Specialist Asst. Prof. Esma Ulusoy stated that "Unless we listen to the voice of nature, we will not be able to understand the consequences of global warming, which is the cause of all these disasters."

Üsküdar University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences (FENS) Molecular Biology and Genetics Asst. Prof. Esma Ulusoy evaluated the fact that mucilage, also known as "sea saliva", has come to the fore again in recent days.

Is mucilage a natural phenomenon?

Stating that mucilage, also known as "marine snow or sea saliva" is a carbohydrate-weighted, jelly-like, harmless organic secretion released from the seed coat and roots in plants, Asst. Prof. Esma Ulusoy expressed that "By ensuring the preservation of moisture in stress conditions, it helps vital events such as nutrient storage, seedling development and germination in plants. This secretion can produce phytoplankton living in oceans, seas and lakes in abundance under stress conditions (such as food scarcity, colonization)."

"Seawater, which acidifies over time, causes sea to produce a lot of mucilage"

Pointing out that these microscopic creatures, which produce a significant part of the world's oxygen, cause a great environmental disaster. Prof. Esma Ulusoy made the following remarks:

"These phytoplankton like stagnant seawaters, which is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, and begin to multiply rapidly in such environments. However, seawater, which acidifies over time due to nitrogen and phosphorus, stresses the phytoplankton that increases excessively and causes them to produce plenty of mucilage. The presence of abundant oxygen, mucilage and phytoplankton in the environment causes an increase in harmful bacteria (Cholera, Colibacillus-colitis, etc.), protozoa (amoeba, etc.) and viruses that attach to them, feed on them, consume oxygen. Over time, this abnormal food web, which starts in the sea, turns into a giant clot and covers both the sea surface and the seabed."

"It turns into a giant jelly and stratifies on the surface"

Asst. Prof. Esma Ulusoy explained that the mucilage, which increases with the increase in phytoplankton for 4-8 months, turns into a coagulated giant jelly with the overheating of the sea water and stratifies on the surface, thus preventing sunlight with the passage of oxygen in the air and causing the death of phytoplankton, and said that "This marine snow, which reaches both oxygen deficiency and meters deep, causes the mass death of fish, crustaceans, creatures such as sponges and corals that depend on oxygen in the sea, These dead creatures cause a horrible smell and environmental disaster. Moreover, mucilage that settles on the seabed over time causes serious damage to marine life and fishing nets."

"It led to a rare environmental disaster in 2021"

Reminding that the mucilage phenomenon, which is seen especially in seas with closed and stagnant waters, was observed for the first time in Türkiye in 1992 by diving athletes in the Gulf of Erdek, Asst. Prof. Esma Ulusoy stated that "Mucilage, which started in January in 2021 and lasted for six months, spread rapidly since May. With the effect of the current and wind, it was effective in the gulfs of Gemlik and İzmit and the coastal areas of İstanbul and spread over an area of 100 square kilometers, causing a rare environmental disaster."

"The mucilage event informs us that disaster is approaching"

Assist. Prof. Esma Ulusoy stated that"The Marmara Sea, an inland sea that has managed to protect itself thanks to the currents of the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus for so many years, now informs us that disaster is approaching with the mucilage event” and concluded her remarks as follows:

"Increasing industrialization, increasing population, increase in ship traffic, pollution caused by fertilizers and pesticides used in agricultural activities must be prevented by strict controls. Therefore, it is vital to raise public awareness about waste management, to develop advanced wastewater facilities, and to control wastewater, fishing activities, ship bilge waters, agricultural chemicals, and fertilizers.

"The cause of all these disasters is global warming..."

Furthermore, we must hear the screams of the Marmara Sea, which has started to die, our seventy lakes that have dried up in the last 60 years, and the tornadoes, floods and earthquakes that have been seen a lot in recent years. Unless we listen to the voice of nature, we will not be able to understand the consequences of global warming, which is the cause of all these disasters."

 

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)