Study shows that ocean acidification has a major impact on marine life

<a href = "https://3c1703fe8d.site.internapcdn.net/newman/gfx/news/hires/2018/studyshowsoc.jpg" title = "Corals, such as this table Acroporid, provide habitats for a wide range of wildlife on a reference site where the concentration of CO ₂ is currently 300ppm Credit: Marco Milazzo ">

Carbon dioxide emissions destroy coral reefs and kelp forests, heat waves and ocean acidification damaging marine ecosystems, scientists warn.

In scientific reports researchers say that three centuries of industrial development have already had a marked effect on our seas.

But if CO levels ₂ continue to increase predicted, the next decades and the lowering of the pH of seawater will have an even greater impact and potentially catastrophic.

Their predictions follow an in-depth study of the effects of recently discovered volcanic CO ₂ which is on the border of temperate and tropical climates.

Ocean currents in the region mean that there are naturally low levels of surface water CO ₂ similar to those that would have existed before global industrial development. Revolution. However, volcanic seeps indicate how increasing CO levels will affect future ecology, both in the Pacific Northwest and around the world.

Senior Author Dr. Sylvain Agostini, Associate Professor at the University of Tsukuba The Shimoda Marine Research Center stated, "These oozing CO ₂ provide a vital window on the watershed. the future.There was a massive mortality of corals in southern Japan last year, but many people expect corals It is therefore extremely worrying to note that tropical corals are so vulnerable to ocean acidification, as this will prevent them from spreading further north and escape the damage caused by too hot water for them.

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The research was conducted by scientists from the University of Tsukuba in Japan, the University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom and the University of Palermo in Italy

. ] 2 Gradients created by volcanic seeps, recording how wildlife responds to the acidification of seawater.

They found that while some plant species benefited from changing conditions they tended to be smaller and seaweed.

These species, and some small marine animals, thrive because they are more tolerant of the stress caused by rising levels of CO ₂ Jason Hall-Spencer, Professor of Biology Navy at the University of Plymouth, said: "Our research site is like a time machine, in pre-industrial CO levels ₂ altered organisms such as corals and oysters. But in areas where the current average surface seawater levels CO ₂ were very low, we found a lot less corals and other forms of calcified life, and therefore less biodiversity. It shows the considerable damage done by humans due to CO emissions over the last 300 years and, unless we can control the reduction of CO emissions, we will undoubtedly witness a major degradation of coastal resources.

Professor Kazuo Inaba, former director of the Shimoda Marine Research Center, added, "Local fishermen are eager to know how ocean acidification will affect their livelihoods. The currents passing in front of Japan bring waters that naturally have low levels of CO ₂ and the fish benefit from the range of calcified habitats around our islands. If we are able to meet the Paris Agreement's goals to limit emissions, we should be able to further limit damage to laminaria forests, coral reefs and all marine ecosystems. "

Learn more:
Internal control helps corals withstand acidification

More information:
Sylvain Agostini et al., Ocean Acidification Conducts Community Movements to Simplified Non-calcified Habitats in a Subtropical-Temperate Transition Zone, Scientific Reports (2018). DOI: 10.1038 / s41598-018-29251-7