LPA promotes the autophagy of trophoblast cells in early pregnancy

Sediments cover some 60% of the global seafloor, defining Earth’s largest habitat in area by far. The small invertebrates that reside in and on these sediments represent one of the largest biodiversity pools on Earth, and this biodiversity likely plays a significant role in the delivery of critical ecosystem functions and services that sustain life on Earth. Ocean production depends on the nutrients regenerated from marine sediments over multiple time scales, and many important commercial species feed on sedimentary invertebrates. Along shorelines, sedimentary biota such as mangroves help to stabilize and thus protect the shoreline from erosion and storm events. Far from uniform in composition, prevalence, and even appearance, marine sediments encompass a wide range of specialized habitats with unique characteristics. Human impacts on marine sediments have altered many coastal habitats, primarily related to fishing activity and habitat destruction but global climate change and associated warming of ocean waters now cause global-scale impacts. Critical knowledge gaps and increasing human pressures create urgency and opportunity to advance research on marine sedimentary environments in support of sustainable ocean objectives.