Coast in the Strandhusen nature reserve

Strandhusens revlar (en)The sandy reefs along the Lomma coast are popular feeding and resting places for both migrating and resident seabirds. The shallow seabed is also an important nursery for many flatfish and life thrives in the extensive seagrass beds.The Strandhusens Revlar marine reserve protects the shallow seabed and water including extensive beds of seagrass that grow along the coast. The water in Lommabukten is a typically brackish environment with a mix of salt and fresh water. The seagrass meadows grow at a depth of 1-12 meters and are a globally threatened habitat. They are important to a variety of species that forage here. The meadow area in particular is a tree nursery for several species. Life thrives here: beachhoppers (amphioda), lots of small laver scallops and Baltic woodlice. You can also find fry of small fish, sand gobies, fish of the Gobiidae family, garfish, as well as common shrimp. Cod and trout hunt in the upper layers of seagrass and closer to the bottom live cod, eel and Atlantic herring. The broad-nosed needle, which is a close relative of the seahorse, hides in the sea grass. Flatfish thrive on the bare mosaic sandbars surrounded by the seagrass stands. Beach crabs search for food and take cover under rocks. Several species of seabirds use the seagrass beds to forage. The seagrass mitigates erosion by binding sand and bottom sediment with its roots, while the leaf mass reduces wave energy reaching the beach. Vegetation absorbs nutrients and carbon dioxide from the water, mitigating the effects of eutrophication and climate change. Another important effect of the seagrass meadows is the stabilization of the bottom sediment, resulting in even clearer water. The purpose of the reserve is to protect and care for the valuable natural environment of the area and its biodiversity. It is important to ensure the survival of the seagrass beds and shallow seabed so that they can continue to support rich marine life.