Abstract
This report discusses the causes and impacts of climate change on ocean life and proposes measures to curb the destruction of aquatic life. Global warming is one of the serious manifestations of climate change. In the marine environment, it has led to the destruction of aquatic life. This report is written using qualitative information derived from secondary sources that discuss the impacts of global warming on aquatic life.
The findings of this study reveal that global warming has affected aquatic life as follows. First, it has led to high temperatures in the oceans. High temperature leads to the destruction of main sources of food such as algae and corals. This causes the depletion of food, which affects the symbiotic association of sea life. Global warming has led to an increase in deep-sea acidity. This has led to a decrease in the supply of organic gases.
Inadequate availability of organic gases leads to the death of marine life. Global warming has affected marine photosynthesis. Hence, most aquatic plants cannot access enough nutrients. Coral bleaching has been increasing steadily because of high temperatures in the oceans. Bleaching of coral reefs leads to the destruction of algae. In the Polar Regions, global warming has led to an increased melting of ice in the oceans. Therefore, many aquatic animals in the Polar Regions have started dying.
It is evident that climate change has serious consequences. Therefore, the following measures should be taken to protect ocean life from further destruction. First, serious measures should be taken to mitigate the emission of toxic gases that lead to global warming. Second, resources should be allocated to facilitate scientific research on aquatic life. Third, endangered species of aquatic life should be protected from further destruction.
Introduction
According to my research findings, climate change is one of the serious contemporary environmental challenges. Global warming is one of the effects of climate change. It has serious effects on the ecosystem. Global warming refers to the rise in the earth’s normal atmospheric heat that leads to analogous alterations in climate (World Wildlife Fund). There has been a significant increase in the emission of toxic gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane in the twentieth century.
Thus, human activities that generate carbon dioxide are one of the main causes of global warming. Toxic gases have obliterated the ozone layer. The destruction of the ozone layer has led to the exposure of the earth to harmful radiation from the sun. Emission of toxic gases into the atmosphere also leads to the creation of a shield around the globe, which traps heat inside the earth. Accumulation of heat leads to global warming, which affects the environment and living organisms.
An increase in air temperature is harmful to ocean life. Increase in temperature reduces water density and affects the cold layer of water that contains nutrients, which living organisms consume. The heating up of the oceans affect the availability of food for marine life (Taylor). Additionally, oceans are becoming more acidic due to increasing temperatures.
This report presents my research findings on the causes and impacts of climate change on ocean life and proposes measures to prevent the destruction of ocean life. The manager of the Aquatic International Network will present the findings of this study to a congressional committee of environmentalists.
Causes of Climate Change
Climate change refers to a considerable and long-term transformation in the numerical distribution of weather conditions (Guardian Environment Network). The earth’s climate has been changing rapidly due to the following factors. First, the varying intensity of radiation from the sun leads to the heating and cooling of the earth’s surface. This process leads to climate change. Second, oceans influence climate change since they contain carbon dioxide.
When carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, it warms the environment. Oceans accumulate high amounts of warmth. Thus, a slight change in sea currents can greatly affect coastal climate (Myles). Therefore, the movement of ocean currents affects climate in several parts of the earth (World Wildlife Fund). For example, when the sea currents move towards the continent of America, it becomes warm since the currents contain heat.
Third, plate tectonic forces can trigger the movement of continents to various points on the earth. These movements lead to volcanic eruptions and the formation of mountains. This process can lead to a significant change in the climate. Lack of vegetation cover exposes the earth’s surface to a lot of heat, thereby leading to global warming.
All these factors lead to substantial changes in weather patterns. Nonetheless, the interaction of these factors has a significant effect on climate change. For instance, “a change in one of these factors leads to more changes in others” (Conservation International).
The Impacts of Climate Change on Ocean Life
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants in the ocean access nutrients. For example, plants such as algae cannot survive in the ocean environment without photosynthesis. The process of photosynthesis eliminates carbon dioxide from the air and transforms it into natural carbon and oxygen, which plants use to process food.
Research findings suggest that phytoplankton thrives better in cool oceans. However, due to rising sea temperatures, phytoplankton is likely to reduce significantly (Center for Ocean Solutions). In addition, algae are being depleted because their production has been affected by excess heat in the oceans.
The rising temperatures in the oceans hinder the upward flow of nutrients from the seabed to the water surface. Thus, marine life cannot get enough organic gases such as carbon and oxygen. The depletion of sea plants leads to a shortage of food for aquatic animals. In addition, it reduces the supply of the aforementioned organic gases in the oceans. Consequently, depletion of food and oxygen negatively affect the survival of aquatic life (Myles).
Annual Growth Sequence
Plants and marine creatures require a balanced amount of temperature and light to survive. The ability of organisms such as phytoplankton to grow depends on the temperature of the ocean (Guardian Environment Network). An increase in temperature interferes with the growth cycle of phytoplankton by making it grow faster than usual. The life cycle of organisms, whose growth is facilitated by light, always begin at the same time.
Therefore, the rising temperatures in the oceans have affected the harmonious growth of light-driven organisms. Growth irregularities interfere with the marine food chain. For instance, some organisms that once moved to the water surface to feed are now encountering serious challenges due to deficiency of nutrients (Guardian Environment Network).
Migration of Ocean life
Some aquatic creatures have begun migrating to safer zones due to unbearable ocean temperatures. Most of the affected organisms are either moving to the east or to the west coasts depending on the conditions that they need to survive. Organisms that can withstand high temperatures such as shrimps are moving northwards. On the other hand, organisms that are vulnerable to high temperatures are receding southwards.
This relocation will result in a unique mix of creatures in new surroundings. Ultimately, the feeding patterns will change. Organisms that will not be able to adapt to the new environments will eventually become extinct. Death of some creatures will lead to an imbalance in the ocean bionetwork (Lobe).
Acidification
The high concentration of carbon dioxide in the sea affects the concentration of chemicals, which leads to acidity in the ocean. Increase in acidity hinders plants from consuming greenhouse gases. For instance, phytoplankton is being depleted due to high levels of acidity (Center for Ocean Solutions). Acidity in the sea also affects the survival of aquatic creatures. For example, excess carbon dioxide concentration has affected marine organisms such as shellfish and corals, which are likely to become extinct in the next few decades.
Coral reefs are arguably one of the most significant aspects of the marine ecosystem because they provide food to many organisms in the sea. Due to global warming, coral reefs have been ravaged seriously by excess accumulation of toxic gases and heat in the oceans (Taylor). Generally, coral generates minute crusts of calcium carbonate to facilitate the creation of its skeleton.
Increased acidification neutralizes the carbonate ions. This process retards the growth of coral reefs. Consequently, reduction of coral reefs will eventually lead to depletion of food in the marine ecosystem. Depletion of food will lead to starvation and death of some organisms (Queally).
Coral Bleaching
Coral bleaching refers to the breakup of the symbiotic association between coral and marine plants such as algae. This process is caused by warmth and increased the concentration of carbon dioxide, which breaks the bond between coral reefs and plants. Corals become weak once algae are detached from them. Destruction of algae and corals disrupts the marine food chain. Thus, many organisms cannot access food.
Reduction in the availability of food leads to a decrease in the ocean floor biomass (Lobe). Due to the limited availability of food, sea creatures reduce in size since they cannot get enough food and organic gases.
Organisms that inhabit deep waters are the most affected since they do not access food easily. Scientists have observed that in the future, there will be massive loss of biomass in the oceans if the coral reefs are destroyed. Nonetheless, “in the Southern and Arctic Oceans of the polar regions, seafloor biomass is expected to increase; however, this will not be sufficient to counterbalance the negative effects felt elsewhere” (National Geographic).
Holocene Climatic Optimum
“The Holocene Climatic Optimum refers to a general warming period in the history of mankind that occurred between 9000 to 5000 B.P” (Center for Ocean Solutions). Scientific evidence indicates that there was a serious climatic change during this period, which led to the extinction of many creatures and plants.
For example, an important plant species called younger days was depleted gradually due to increase in temperature. The pattern of depletion of coral reefs and marine plants is similar to that of younger days. Depletion of important resources will lead to serious effects in the ecosystem (Guardian Environment Network).
In the Polar Regions, global warming has led to an increase in the melting of ice. The reduction of ice will affect the production of some species of algae, which thrive in cold conditions. Algae are the basic sources of food in the Arctic food chain (Queally). Therefore, thousands of organisms in the Polar Regions cannot survive without algae. The cold temperature in the Arctic is suitable for many animals, such as polar bears and narwhals.
However, an increase in temperature in the Polar Regions leads to the melting of ice in the ocean, which in turn reduces the growth of algae and creates food shortages (Guardian Environment Network). Moreover, “reduction of ice in the sea results in the loss of vital habitats for seals, walruses, polar bears, penguins, and whales in both the Arctic and Antarctic” (Taylor).
“Sea ice is a critical habitat for Antarctic krill, which is a source of food for many seabirds and mammals in the Southern Ocean” (Conservation International). Unfortunately, there has been a considerable reduction in the number of Antarctic krill due to an increase in the melting of ice in the sea.
Effects on Human beings
Although humans are not part of the marine ecosystem, a drastic change in the ocean environment affects them because they also feed on some marine organisms. “A small increase of two degrees Celsius would destroy almost all existing coral reefs” (Union of Concerned Scientists ). Furthermore, changes in ocean flow due to an increase in temperature would seriously affect marine fisheries.
Recommendations
Based on my research findings, various factors have led to global warming. However, human activities are the main causes of high temperatures in the ocean. For instance, many people still use fossil fuels, which generate toxic gases that destroy the oceans. Therefore, the reduction of carbon emissions is the best solution to the current challenge of global warming, which has led to the obliteration of marine life. In this case, the use of clean sources of energy should be encouraged to prevent further destruction of the environment.
Second, research that is more scientific should be carried out to find out the extent to which ocean life has been destroyed by high temperatures. Research activities are important because they will help in the formulation of evidence-based solutions to the current global warming. Additionally, resources should be mobilized to facilitate rehabilitation and protection of ocean life because they are important in the ecosystem.
Conclusion
This discussion has revealed that climatic changes have led to an increase in global warming, which has seriously affected the entire ecosystem. Currently, the temperature is increasing rapidly in the oceans due to the accumulation of gases. Therefore, global warming is becoming a big challenge in the marine environment because it leads to depletion of food and organic gases. The primary sources of food for marine life such as coral reefs and algae are being destroyed at an alarming rate by the high temperatures in the sea.
The destruction of primary food producers in the oceans will lead to significant changes in the marine food chain. For example, many sea creatures have started moving away from their original habitats because they are looking for better environments. Moreover, the amount of biomass in the oceans will reduce drastically in the next few years due to the depletion of food resources. Consequently, drastic measures should be taken to save the oceans from further destruction because they greatly influence changes in climate.
Works Cited
Center for Ocean Solutions. Windfall: The Booming Business of Global Warming. 2013. Web.
Conservation Interantional. Five Effects of Climate Change on the Ocean. 2011. Web.
Guardian Environment Network. Deep Sea Creatures will Not Escape Climate Change. 2014. Web.
Lobe, Jim. Global Warming Threatens Marine Life. 2010. Web.
Myles, Robert. Climate Change to Cause Major Loss of Marine Life by 2100. 2013. Web.
National Geographic. Impact of Climate Change on Coral Reefs. 2014. Web.
Queally, Jon. The Global Ecosystem and Climate Change: Threat to Marine Life and the World’s Oceans. 2013. Web.
Taylor, Annan. Climate Change Impacts on Marine Life. 2013. Web.
Union of Concerned Scientists. Loss of Sea Ice Accelerates, Warming Threatens Animals and People Living in the Arctic. Web.
World Wildlife Fund. Marine Problems: Climate Change. 2014. Web.