Work

Machine learning unveils large-scale impact of Posidonia oceanica on Mediterranean Sea water

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Posidonia oceanica is a protected endemic seagrass of the Mediterranean Sea that fosters biodiversity, stores carbon, releases oxygen, and provides habitat to numerous sea organisms. Leveraging augmented research, we collected a comprehensive dataset of 174 features compiled from diverse data sources. Through machine learning analysis, we discovered the existence of a robust correlation between the location of P. oceanica and water biogeochemical properties. The model's feature importance showed that carbon-related variables such as net biomass production and carbon dioxide flux have their values altered in the areas with P. oceanica . The study provides evidence of the plant's ability to exert a global impact on the environment and underscores the crucial role of this plant in sea ecosystems, emphasizing the need for its conservation and management. • Posidonia oceanica fosters biodiversity, stores carbon, and releases oxygen. • Through augmented research a broad dataset was created from diverse data sources. • Machine learning finds correlation of Posidonia and water biogeochemical properties. • The existence of Posidonia entails a large-scale impact on the environment.

Source: The Science of The Total Environment

DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178802

Authors: Celio Trois, Luciana Didonet Del Fabro, Vladimir A. Baulin

Institution: Universitat Rovira i Virgili

Language: English

Topic: Marine and coastal plant biology

Subfield: Oceanography

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Life below water, Climate action, Life on land

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,250