Issue
Human activities can cause unexpected and devastating consequences when they simultaneously affect a coastal ecosystem.
The combination of stressors like overfishing, invasive species, toxic contaminants in the water, and nutrient runoff from land can compromise the health of an ecosystem much more than only one stressor. This can result in the loss of species and the recreational and commercial use of its resources. Understanding
how multiple stressors affect natural systems will improve our ability
to manage and protect these systems.