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IMAGE: Corals, such as this Acroporid chart, provide habitat for a wide range of fauna at a reference site where the CO concentration 2 is currently 300 ppm.
Carbon dioxide emissions destroy coral reefs and kelp forests as heat waves and ocean acidification damage marine ecosystems, scientists warned. Researchers say that three centuries of industrial development have already had a marked effect on our seas.
But if CO levels continue to increase as expected, the next decades and the lowering of seawater pH Their predictions come after a thorough study of the effects of recently discovered volcanic CO 2 which infiltrated off Shikine Island, Japan, on the border of temperate and tropical regions.
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 the global industrial revolution. However, volcanic seeps indicate how increasing levels of CO will affect future ecology, both in the North West Pacific Ocean and around the world.
Senior Author Dr. Sylvain Agostini, Associate Professor at the University of Tsukuba Shimoda Marine Research Center, said, "These oozing CO 2 provide a vital window into the future. There was a massive mortality of corals in southern Japan last year, but many people cling to the hope that the corals will be so it is extremely disturbing to note that tropical corals are so vulnerable to ocean acidification, as this would prevent them from spreading further north and escape the damage caused by too hot water for them. 19659005] 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 the fauna and flora react to the acidification of the seawater.
They found that if some plant species benefited changing conditions, they tended to be smaller. These species, along with some small marine animals, thrive because they are more tolerant of the stress caused by rising CO levels 2 . 19659005] Jason Hall-Spencer, professor of marine biology at the University of Plymouth, said, "Our research site is like a time machine in pre-industrial CO levels 2 the coast has an impressive amount of calcified organisms such as corals and oysters.But in areas where current average surface seawater levels are very low (19459012) 2 we found much 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, at Unless we can control the reduction of CO emissions, we will undoubtedly witness a major degradation of coastal ecosystems. "
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 have naturally low levels of CO 2 and the fish benefit from the range of calcified habitats around our islands. If we achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement to limit emissions, we should be able to further limit damage to kelp forests, coral reefs and all marine ecosystems. "
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