Ocean acidification, caused by the absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) into seawater, leads to the formation of carbonic acid, which lowers the pH of the ocean and disrupts the carbonate system essential for marine calcifiers to build calcium carbonate structures such as shells and skeletons.

This chemical imbalance directly impacts marine species by making it energetically costly for calcifiers to maintain their shells, leading to dissolution under acidic conditions and impairing physiological functions such as immune responses and circadian rhythms in fish.

Cephalopods, such as cuttlefish and octopuses, are particularly vulnerable to ocean acidification as it disrupts their ability to regulate pH levels in their bodies, a process that is energetically expensive and can impair their overall health and survival.

Studies suggest that ocean acidification may alter the behavior and neurological functions of cephalopods by impacting their sensory systems and decision-making processes, potentially reducing their ability to evade predators or hunt effectively.

The combined effects of ocean acidification and warming exacerbate stress on cephalopods, particularly during their early life stages, leading to reduced survival rates and developmental challenges that threaten their populations.

Ocean acidification reduces the availability of calcium carbonate in seawater, which is essential for marine organisms like cephalopods to build and maintain their shells, resulting in thinner and smaller shells that compromise their survival and growth rates.

The physiological processes of cephalopods, such as ion regulation and neural function, are disrupted by acidified conditions, requiring significant energy to adapt to changes in pH and ion concentrations.

Ocean acidification also impacts the early life stages of shelled marine organisms, including cephalopods, by increasing vulnerability during critical periods like larval development, which may lead to population instability and long-term ecological consequences.

The Late Permian Mass Extinction provides historical evidence of how ocean acidification, driven by high CO2 levels, led to the collapse of marine ecosystems, including the extinction of externally-shelled cephalopods, highlighting the potential risks for modern cephalopod populations under similar conditions.

Cephalopods play a crucial role in marine ecosystems as both predators and prey, linking various trophic levels and supporting biodiversity through their interactions with other species.

A decline in cephalopod populations due to acidification could cascade through marine ecosystems, potentially reducing biodiversity by impacting species that rely on them for food or ecological balance.

Ocean acidification disrupts the food chain by negatively affecting key prey species like zooplankton, which are vital for higher trophic levels, including cephalopods and marine predators.

Shelled organisms such as pteropods, which are crucial prey for many marine species, face challenges in maintaining their calcium carbonate shells under acidic conditions, with population declines during vulnerable life stages threatening the stability of food webs and carbon cycles.

Ocean acidification indirectly impacts marine mammals like whales, dolphins, and seals by disrupting the food web, as acidification negatively affects organisms such as zooplankton and shellfish that form the base of their diet.

Additionally, ocean acidification can alter the chemical composition of seawater, which may affect the sensory systems and behaviors of marine mammals, such as navigation and communication.

The combined effects of acidification and warming oceans exacerbate stress on marine ecosystems, potentially leading to habitat loss and reduced biodiversity, which are critical for the survival of marine mammals that rely on specific environmental conditions.

Ocean acidification disrupts the sensory systems of marine species, such as fish, by impairing their ability to detect and respond to environmental cues, including predator odors, which can lead to increased vulnerability and altered survival behaviors.

Acidification can affect the nervous systems of marine animals, including reef fish and sharks, by altering their ability to track odors, which is critical for navigation, foraging, and communication within their ecosystems.

In addition to sensory impacts, acidified waters enhance sound transmission, which can disrupt the acoustic communication of marine mammals and other species, further complicating their ability to locate mates, avoid predators, and maintain ecosystem balance.

The early life stages of fish, such as eggs and larvae, are particularly vulnerable to ocean acidification, as it can reduce hatching success, growth rates, and survival, thereby threatening the replenishment of adult populations.

High acidity levels in ocean waters can disrupt fish behavior, making them more susceptible to predation by impairing their ability to detect and avoid predators, which could lead to declines in fish stocks and biodiversity.

Ocean acidification disrupts the ability of plankton species, such as pteropods, to form and maintain their calcium carbonate shells, which are essential for their survival, leading to population declines and threatening their role as a foundational food source in marine ecosystems.

The vulnerability of plankton species to acidification cascades through marine food webs, as their decline impacts higher trophic levels, including fish and marine mammals that rely on them for sustenance, potentially destabilizing entire ecosystems.

Ocean acidification is having a pronounced impact in polar regions, such as the Arctic, where rapid sea ice melting accelerates the absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide, leading to acidification rates three to four times faster than other oceans and threatening marine ecosystems reliant on calcium carbonate structures.

In the Arabian Gulf, ocean acidification combined with warming is significantly affecting shrimp populations, with studies showing high mortality rates in shrimp larvae under low pH and elevated temperatures, which could lead to reduced stocks and ecosystem disruptions.

Ocean acidification has significant implications for marine species with cultural and economic importance, such as cephalopods, as it alters the chemistry of seawater and impacts their habitats and food sources, potentially disrupting ecosystems and fisheries that communities rely on for sustenance and income.

Interactive activities like beach clean-ups and waste sorting games can effectively engage students in understanding the impact of human actions on marine ecosystems, including ocean acidification, by combining physical effort with educational content about pollution and its consequences on biodiversity.

Creative approaches like transforming marine waste into art pieces or hosting exhibitions can inspire reflection on ocean health and encourage students to think critically about the effects of acidification and pollution on ecosystems.

Incorporating technology-driven learning experiences, such as monitoring marine ecosystems through IoT and Arduino programming, can deepen students' understanding of biodiversity and the role of organisms like cephalopods in maintaining ecological balance, while highlighting the threats posed by acidification.

Ocean acidification, caused by the absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) into seawater, leads to the formation of carbonic acid, which lowers the pH of the ocean and disrupts the carbonate system essential for marine calcifiers to build calcium carbonate structures such as shells and skeletons.

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Content: There were 1,862 press releases posted in the last 24 hours and 393,697 in the last 365 days.

Utilizing biogeochemical and genetic tools to understand and support clam populations in a changing ocean

Marine bivalves are at risk due to anthropogenic climate change. This poses a threat to commercial aquaculture, and the communities that depend on bivalves for food security. Ocean acidification, the lowering of seawater pH, is of particular concern for marine calcifiers, including bivalves. Ocean acidification occurs as carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere at a rate faster than natural geologic processes can buffer. It is energetically costly for marine calcifiers like clams, mussels, and oysters, to mineralize under acidic conditions, and low pH leads to the dissolution of calcium carbonate shells and skeletons. This problem warrants research on acidification adaptation strategies that will keep coastal populations healthy. Adding calcium carbonate shell hash to coastal sediments may mitigate negative effects of acidification on infaunal shellfish by altering the chemistry of pore fluids, thus providing a potential mitigation strategy for local populations, including species like the Pacific littleneck clam (Leukoma staminea).

Here, I present the first in-depth description of the shell mineralogy, microstructure, body size variability, and geochemical properties of modern L. staminea, a common eastern Pacific, shallow, infaunal bivalve. Additionally, I document the impact of ocean acidification on the shell growth and gene expression of L. staminea, and test whether adding shell hash to its infaunal environement can promote growth under acidified conditions. Juvenile clams were raised in four experimental conditions for 90 days: control seawater, acidified seawater, control seawater with shell hash, and acidified seawater with shell hash. Clam shell weight, soft tissue weight, and new shell growth were measured. The presence of shell hash increased the pH, alkalinity and aragonite saturation state of pore fluids across all treatments, and increased shell growth on average, although growth metrics were variable across and within treatments. Lastly, RNA-sequencing revealed the impacts of experimental acidification on juvenile clam gene expression. Clams grown in the presence of shell hash had gene expression profiles more similar to those grown in control (non-acidified) conditions. In all, this research suggests that adding shell hash to coastal sediments alters the chemistry of pore fluids and buffers against acidic conditions that deleteriously affects clam mineralization.

Kempf H., 2024. Utilizing biogeochemical and genetic tools to understand and support clam populations in a changing ocean. PhD Thesis, University of California, Davis. 33 p. Thesis (restricted access).

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water absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

This chemical imbalance directly impacts marine species by making it energetically costly for calcifiers to maintain their shells, leading to dissolution under acidic conditions and impairing physiological functions such as immune responses and circadian rhythms in fish.

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Content: Carbon Dioxide Makes Ocean Acidification Study Suggests Rapid Evolution Could Make Fish Easier to Deal With
March 03, 2022 17: 00
Eastern Network Television
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Some fish can evolve rapidly to cope with ocean acidification.
(courtesy of Shutterstock)
In addition to causing climate warming, global emissions of large amounts of carbon dioxide will also cause sea water to become acidic, and marine life may be affected.
The study found that volcanic infiltration of high CO2 partial pressure, that is, high concentrations of CO2 dissolved in water, changes in the genetic transcription of fish, predict the response of wild fish to the continuous acidification of the marine environment.
The results show that some fish with faster rates of evolution may be more flexible in coping with ocean acidification, maintaining population size and diversity. One species of fish may be able to acidify the marine environment with its rapid evolution of gene molecular transcription regulation, but the population size and diversity of fish with slower rates of evolution are difficult to maintain in acidified environments.
As carbon dioxide emissions from human activities increase year by year, and the CO2 absorbed by the ocean continues to rise, causing the pH of seawater to decline and become acidic, scientists expect “ocean acidification ” on the surface of the world ’ s oceans, which may affect the physiology, growth and survival of some fish, and change some key behaviors that affect survival chances.
A team led by Celia SCHUNTER from the Faculty of Biosciences of the University of Hong Kong and the Swire Institute of Marine Science, along with foreign researchers, travelled to Papua New Guinea, the Pacific island nation, to extract the brains of six species of coral fish, including five species of finch and one species of celestial bream, from a carbon dioxide spill at the bottom of a volcano and about 500 m nearby coral reef. The organization conducts gene transcription group sequencing to understand the changes in fish gene transcription in the ocean acidification environment.
The results show that high CO2 partial pressure can cause transcription changes in genes related to circadian clock and immune function in several species, demonstrating that fish function is important in coping with acidifying environments, and that the core genes of circadian rhythms determine the 24-hour cycle of most species.
Immune-related regulation has been found in many species of fish in acidified environments, so regulation of the immune response may also be an important response to acidification, especially in nocturnal fish, which exhibit a greater proportion of immune regulation and are modulated in the opposite direction to diurnal fish.
In contrast to the fish body ’ s ability to regulate the pH value of the cells, the researchers found that the brain of the spinosus is used to maintain a large number of changes in potassium, sodium, chlorine and calcium ions that transmit signals in the carbon dioxide ooze. Corresponding changes are needed to cope with the acidification environment, but differences in the expression of related genes disappear when stress is reduced, and genes return to normal levels of expression.
Further research by the team found that this finch has evolved significantly faster than other fish over the past 15 million years, potentially giving it greater potential to adapt to environmental changes.
It is speculated that this species may have evolved molecular mechanisms to cope with future ocean acidification.

How do scientists expect ocean acidification to impact specific fish species?

it will affect their physiology and growth

How does coastal ocean acidification affect shellfish?

How does elevated water acidity affect fish ability to survive?

What factors lead to damage of coral reefs?

Cephalopods, such as cuttlefish and octopuses, are particularly vulnerable to ocean acidification as it disrupts their ability to regulate pH levels in their bodies, a process that is energetically expensive and can impair their overall health and survival.

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Study explores combined impacts of ocean warming and acidification on pacific cod

Newly hatched Pacific cod larva. (Image credit: NOAA Fisheries/Emily Slesinger)

As the climate changes, the ocean is simultaneously warming and acidifying. Both have been shown to adversely affect the vulnerable early life stages of Pacific cod. But until now, the interplay of these two environmental stressors was unknown.

new NOAA Fisheries study takes a look into the future by replicating predicted Alaska ocean conditions in the laboratory. The study is the first to look at the interactive effects of ocean warming and acidification on Pacific cod. Researchers evaluated the growth and survival of eggs and larvae at combinations of temperature and acidity representing current and future ocean environments. The findings can help improve predictions to ensure climate-ready Alaska fisheries and communities in the future.

Alaska Fish Face Multiple Climate-Driven Stressors

Ocean warming and acidification are escalating faster in Alaska and other high latitude regions than anywhere else on the planet. Alaska produces more than half of the nation’s wild-caught seafood. Local communities depend on the ecosystem for their livelihoods. Understanding how climate-driven stressors will affect these valuable resources is critical to ensuring resilient Alaska communities and a strong blue economy in the future.

Because fish are cold-blooded, temperature profoundly affects their growth and behavior. The effects of acidification are more nuanced. Fish can buffer acidity in the bloodstream but at an energetic cost.

Very young fish—eggs and larvae—tend to be the most sensitive stages of the fish life cycle to both warming and acidification. Unlike adult fish that can move to cooler waters, these tiny creatures are incapable of migrating to more favorable conditions. Subtle differences in their growth and condition can make a big difference to the number of young fish that make it to the adult population.

Laboratory set up for ocean acidification and ocean warming experiments with early stages of Pacific cod. Large tanks in the background provide chilled and ambient seawater that are mixed to temperature. Small round tanks house eggs and larvae at different temperatures and acidification levels. Acidification is controlled by bubbling carbon dioxide into the seawater: more carbon dioxide causes higher acidity (lower pH). (Image credit: NOAA Fisheries/Emily Slesinger)

Pacific cod is an important subsistence food, a key species in the food web, and the second-largest commercial groundfish catch in Alaska. Understanding how warming and acidification together may affect this ecologically, culturally, and commercially valuable species is key to predicting future climate impacts.

“Knowing how individual species will respond to multiple climate stressors helps us put together this puzzle to figure out what species are more vulnerable than others,” Emily Slesinger said. “And that will help guide ecosystem-based fisheries management to ensure their sustainability.”

Partnerships and Unique Laboratory Capabilities Expand Possibilities for Studying Alaska Species

Finding answers posed some hurdles. “It’s really challenging to study these fish that are found in remote and cold environments,” Slesinger said.

They met those challenges through partnerships and a specially equipped laboratory facility.

Fishermen played a key role. To obtain eggs and larvae for experiments, they first needed live adults, ready to spawn. Commercial fishermen used baited fishing pots to catch adults off Kodiak Island during the spawning season.

Fertilized eggs were shipped to the NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center Laboratory in Newport, Oregon. The eggs and larvae were reared at six combinations of temperature (3°C, 6°C, 10°C) and acidification (ambient and high acidity). Scientists measured their hatch success, growth, nutritional condition, and mortality throughout the nine-week experiment.

“The Newport lab is very special,” Slesinger said. “What is most unique is our seawater system that can chill water to Arctic temperatures. The lab has the capacity to house many fish at all life stages and the expertise to keep them thriving. And it has the facilities to run these complicated experiments on the younger life stages.”

Experiments Reveal a Dominant Stressor

The study found that overall, Pacific cod’s early life stages were more sensitive to warming than to acidification:

  • Temperature affected all measured traits: growth, condition, and mortality
  • Mortality of both eggs and larvae was highest at the warmest temperature
  • 6°C was the optimal temperature for hatching, condition, and survival
  • At the warmest temperature (10°C), Pacific cod grew the fastest but were in poor condition with high mortality rates
  • At the coldest temperature (3°C), mortality rates were lower, but both growth and condition were also low
  • Acidification effects were more modest and inconsistent
  • The single instance of a negative effect of acidification was at the optimal 6°C temperature

“We’re seeing that either temperature or acidification drove the response—they were not additive. At optimal temperatures, Pacific cod may be impaired by acidification. At the warm temperature, they were overwhelmingly negatively impacted, but there was pretty much no effect of acidification,” Slesinger said. “Our findings suggest that temperature is the dominant stressor and ocean warming is likely the greater threat.”

The research highlights the complexity of species- and stage-specific responses to multiple climatic stressors and the importance of understanding them.

“This work is exciting because we are able to provide information about these fish that can be useful for future management. It is really important to me that my research can be directly helpful to societies, economies, and communities,” Slesinger said. “This research contributes to our common goal of ensuring productive, sustainable fishing into the future.”

Ecomagazine, 30 April 2024. Press release.

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How do scientists expect ocean acidification to impact specific fish species?

it will affect their physiology and growth

Which marine organism is vulnerable to increased levels of ocean acidification?

Studies suggest that ocean acidification may alter the behavior and neurological functions of cephalopods by impacting their sensory systems and decision-making processes, potentially reducing their ability to evade predators or hunt effectively.

How do scientists expect ocean acidification to impact specific fish species?

Which marine organism is vulnerable to increased levels of ocean acidification?

The combined effects of ocean acidification and warming exacerbate stress on cephalopods, particularly during their early life stages, leading to reduced survival rates and developmental challenges that threaten their populations.

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In cooperation with the Foundation for the Advancement of Science and the Atomic Energy Agency
« Research » conducted a study on the impact of « acidification » on shrimp
The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), in cooperation with the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), completed a study project to investigate the impact of ocean acidification and ocean surface warming on the growth and abundance of local shrimp.
In turn, the head of the project, researcher Lamia Muslim at the Center for Environmental and Life Sciences Research at the Institute, said that there are many animals that contain in their skeleton or shell calcium carbonate, and changes in the pH of water can negatively affect these organisms, especially in the early stages of their life. The sea and some phytoplankton species, but that does not mean that this is a positive thing because the increased growth of these organisms can disrupt the food chain, biodiversity and ecosystem mechanisms and construction.
She added that the presence of large amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere leads to the occurrence of global warming and the rise of the surface of the oceans by between one and three degrees Celsius, and the rise of the water level to an amount ranging from 0.18 to 0.79 meters, which in turn leads to acidification and warming of the surface of the oceans, and therefore to change the chemistry of the ocean and threaten marine ecosystems.
She pointed out that the shrimp mothers were collected from Kuwaiti territorial waters during the breeding season to obtain eggs and shrimp larvae in sufficient numbers to conduct experiments on all stages of shrimp age, as the study experiments were conducted in the laboratories of the Institute in a controlled system simulating the expected climate changes in the future.
The results of the study confirmed that the warming of the surface of the oceans could have a greater impact than ocean acidification on the early life stages of shrimp larvae, as shrimp larvae exposed to high temperatures showed accelerated growth rates to reach the sizes of older shrimp, but with lower survival rates, it is very likely that lower survival and growth rates under future climate scenarios may lead to the emergence of smaller shrimp larvae. These larvae will undergo multiple molting processes over their life cycle making them vulnerable; furthermore, the study results suggest additional effects of combined exposure to ocean surface warming and acidification on egg-hatching success, survival, and shrimp larval development.
Al-Musallam said: “The study is fully consistent across the entire life cycle of the M Nair shrimp, where high mortality of larvae at low pH and high water temperature indicates a possible collapse of this species of crustacean under conditions of increased ocean acidification and future warming of the ocean surface, which also leads to a significant reduction in shrimp stocks in the Arabian Gulf due to overfishing or reduced larval growth due to climate change. ”
For his part, dr.
Dr. Saifuddin Iqbaluddin, from the Center for Environmental and Life Sciences Research, said experts regularly measure water temperature and pH levels and look at how marine life might respond to these changes in the coming decades.
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At what stage of life are calcium carbonate-based organisms most vulnerable to changes in water pH?

How do scientists expect ocean acidification to impact specific fish species?

it will affect their physiology and growth

Which marine organism is vulnerable to increased levels of ocean acidification?

Ocean acidification reduces the availability of calcium carbonate in seawater, which is essential for marine organisms like cephalopods to build and maintain their shells, resulting in thinner and smaller shells that compromise their survival and growth rates.

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The Logical Indian Crew

Rise In CO2 Levels In Air Is Wounding Sundarbans' Marine Life: Scientists

This has been analysed by a team of marine scientists working in the Sunderbans, who said ocean acidification is a part of global warming and climate change. The experts found the pH level of water dropping from around 8.3 in the early 1980s to approximately 7.9 in 2019.

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A continuous increase in the carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the air is harming the marine life of the Sunderbans estuary in West Bengal by turning it acidic. Animals, especially with shells such as oysters, clams, crabs, and lobsters, are prone to danger.

This has been analysed by a team of marine scientists working in the Sunderbans, who said ocean acidification is a part of global warming and climate change, Hindustan Times reported. The experts found the pH level of water dropping from around 8.3 in the early 1980s to approximately 7.9 in 2019.

Speaking to the media, Abhijit Mitra, former head of the marine science department (Calcutta University), informed that the western part of Sunderban, close to the urban area, had observed a massive drop in its pH level, while the central part is declining slowly.

Mitra said the decline affects the population of shelled organisms and their shell size as well, which has become thinner and smaller. Fishermen said that several fish and other animals have gotten smaller, and they hardly get big ones.

Their population has also fallen by 35-40 per cent in the western area.

"The size of Saccostrea cucullata, a species of edible oyster around Kakdwip and Namkhana fishing harbour, has dropped by over 40 per cent. In the central Sunderbans, the size of the species has dropped by around 20 percent," the media quoted him as saying.

Asst. Professor of Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Punyasloke Bhadury, explained that water contains calcium and carbonate ions, which the shelled animals need to develop and corals to build the reef. But the acidity reduces these components in the water, affecting the shell size and slowing down the growth of reefs.

Experts said the decline in the pH level is alarming. Just as the slightest drop in the pH level of a human body (pH 7.35 to 7.45) can make them sick, the same takes a heavy toll on marine animals.

The scientists said the decline is not just in Sunderbans but other estuaries as well.

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How do scientists expect ocean acidification to impact specific fish species?

it will affect their physiology and growth

How does coastal ocean acidification affect shellfish?

it slows their growth
it can kill shellfish

What do shellfish use to build their shells?

Which marine organism is vulnerable to increased levels of ocean acidification?

The physiological processes of cephalopods, such as ion regulation and neural function, are disrupted by acidified conditions, requiring significant energy to adapt to changes in pH and ion concentrations.

How do scientists expect ocean acidification to impact specific fish species?

it will affect their physiology and growth

Which marine organism is vulnerable to increased levels of ocean acidification?

Ocean acidification also impacts the early life stages of shelled marine organisms, including cephalopods, by increasing vulnerability during critical periods like larval development, which may lead to population instability and long-term ecological consequences.

Title:

Content: Newswise — When carbon dioxide (CO2) enters the oceans, it can make the water more acidic, which is called ocean acidification. This can make it harder for some ocean creatures, like pteropods, to build and keep their shells. Pteropods are important for the ocean environment.

Pteropods are small sea creatures, including shelled sea butterflies. Not much is known about them because of their size, and they don't survive well in captivity. A team of marine scientists studied the life cycles, abundance, and seasonal changes of shelled sea butterflies in the north-east Scotia Sea, where climate change is happening quickly.

Dr Clara Manno, a researcher at the British Antarctic Survey and the corresponding author of the study published in Frontiers in Marine Science, said that the decrease in pteropod populations in the Antarctic Ocean could have significant consequences for the food web and carbon cycle. She also said that understanding the life cycle of this important organism could help to predict the impact of ocean acidification on the Antarctic ecosystem.

Population stability essential for species survival

To study the life cycle, abundance, and seasonal variability of shelled sea butterflies in the north-east Scotia Sea, a team of marine scientists collected sea butterflies in a sediment trap, a sampling device that was anchored at a depth of 400 meters. Since observing the entire life cycle of sea butterflies in a laboratory setting is impossible, the researchers had to gather information about their spawning, growth rate, and population structure. They were able to reconstruct the sea butterflies' life cycle for a year using the samples from the sediment trap.

The scientists found that the two most commonly collected species, Limacina rangii and Limacina retroversa, have different life cycles and therefore have different levels of vulnerability to changes in the ocean. During the winter months, L. rangii, which is a polar species, can be found as both adults and juveniles, while L. retroversa, a subpolar species, is only found as adults during the winter.

Sea butterflies that exist during the coldest season are more vulnerable to increased levels of ocean acidification. This is because ocean water is more acidic during this season than during other times of the year due to cooler temperatures that increase CO2 dissolution in the ocean. The researchers explained that the life stages of sea butterflies during this time are more exposed and vulnerable to the effects of ocean acidification.

L. rangii has a survival advantage over L. retroversa because both adults and juveniles coexist during winter, which reduces the risk of population instability if one cohort is vulnerable. In contrast, if one cohort is removed from L. retroversa, the entire population could be at risk.

Prolonged exposure is a survival challenge

The researchers pointed out that although the two species are affected differently, both are likely to suffer harm if they are exposed to unfavorable conditions for prolonged periods.

The scientists cautioned that the intensifying and prolonged events of ocean acidification overlap with the spring spawning period, posing a threat to the most vulnerable life stage, the larvae. This could endanger the future populations of sea butterflies.

The research team plans to further study the sea butterflies in the Scotia Sea to see how they would be affected by the increase in the intensity and duration of ocean acidification events. They will study multiyear sediment trap samples to identify potential changes in the life cycle that may occur due to environmental changes. Dr Jessie Gardner of the British Antarctic Survey, lead author of the study, said this will be the next step in their research.

Journal Link: Frontiers in Marine Science

At what stage of life are calcium carbonate-based organisms most vulnerable to changes in water pH?

How do scientists expect ocean acidification to impact specific fish species?

Which marine organism is vulnerable to increased levels of ocean acidification?

The Late Permian Mass Extinction provides historical evidence of how ocean acidification, driven by high CO2 levels, led to the collapse of marine ecosystems, including the extinction of externally-shelled cephalopods, highlighting the potential risks for modern cephalopod populations under similar conditions.

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Content: The Sciences

The Late Permian Mass Extinction Explained

Burning coal caused the largest mass extinction in earth’s history — the Late Permian Mass Extinction, or the Great Dying.

By Gabe AllenJul 22, 2022 10:00 AM
(Credit: Catmando/Shutterstock)

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Mass extinctions are evolutionary turning points — brief moments on a geologic time scale that drastically change the course of life on earth. One moment in particular stands out. The Permian-Triassic extinction, aka the Great Dying, eradicated more than 90 percent of earth’s marine species and 75 percent of terrestrial species 252 million years ago. It was the deadliest mass extinction event in the history of our planet, and its legacy lives on in the flora and fauna of the modern world.

The climactic and geochemical triggers for the Great Dying are unsettlingly similar to the effects of anthropogenic climate change. Global warming, ocean acidification and ozone layer-depletion caused ecological collapse.

The organisms that did recover from the extinction, did so slowly. Equatorial regions, which had been scorched beyond recognition, did not regain their characteristic biodiversity for five million years. Global ecosystems lacked both diversity and stability for at least eight million years following the event.

Survivors of the extinction event, though few, eventually repopulated the earth. These organisms are the ancestors of every living thing today. To paleontologists, the End-Permian Mass Extinction is the temporal boundary between the ancient paleozoic fauna and the modern fauna — a theoretical border between our world and a barely-recognizable predecessor.

Finding Precision

As recent as the late 2000s, the research community was significantly divided over what caused the Permian extinction. Some suggested that volcanism was at fault, while others suggested a meteor impact, like the one that wiped out the dinosaurs, caused the extinction.

Those that preferred the volcanic explanation, suspected the Siberian Traps, an expansive region of volcanic rock in present-day Siberia. The formation developed during an unrivaled period of volcanic rock on the ancient supercontinent Pangea.

“It’s the largest continental volcanic event and the largest mass extinction that we’re aware of on earth ever,” says Dr. Lindy Elkins-Tanton, a planetary scientist and professor at Arizona State University. “At the time, we didn’t know what caused either one or if they were definitively related to each other.”

In 2014, Chinese and American researchers made a breakthrough. The team extracted ancient volcanic ash from the Global Stratotype Section and Point for the early Triassic period, a site in Meishan, China that contains sediment that dates to the crisis unambiguously. By analyzing the uranium and lead isotopes contained in the ash, they put a relatively precise date on the extinction: 251.9 million years ago, give or take 70,000 years.

The next step was to date the Siberian Traps. Using the same method, the scientists analyzed samples from the site. “The bulk of this diffusive and explosive volcanism led up to the extinction,” says Elkins-Tanton, who was a part of the research team.

From these two dates, a timeline began to emerge. Intense volcanic activity on the ancient supercontinent of Pangea spewed magma through layers of basalt, coal and organic material. The combustion of these layers produced an immense amount of CO2 as well as other greenhouse gasses and chlorofluorocarbons.

Victims and Survivors

On land, both plants and animals perished in equatorial regions. At further latitudes, mosses and other lycopods began to dominate ecosystems that were once forested with conifers. Our ancestors, the tetrapods, died en masse. Survivors fled from the tropics towards the poles.

Like the mass extinctions before it, the End-Permian had an outsized impact on marine organisms. As CO2 from the atmosphere leached into the water, the ocean became more and more acidic. Simultaneously, high temperatures and cyanobacteria blooms consumed dissolved oxygen until there was little left.

Many organisms that had evolved to construct exoskeletons from minerals, found in ambient seawater, did not survive these changes in marine chemistry. The engineers of Permian reef ecosystems, rugose and tabulate corals, went completely extinct. Vast groups of externally-shelled cephalopods, ancestors of the nautilus, succumbed to the same fate. The End-Permian extinguished the last species of Trilobites as well, a group that had been on the decline since the Ordovician Mass Extinction.

Read more: The First Mass Extinction Event Explained: End-Ordovician

As with any mass-extinction, there were survivors of the Great Dying. Before the event, clam-like brachiopods were plentiful and diverse, but the extinction extinguished them in favor of their cousins, the bivalve mollusks. To this day, bivalves are widespread, while only a few orders of brachiopods remain.

Many researchers have speculated that the End-Permian may have catalyzed diversification among tetrapods. Though the extinction wiped many out permanently, the Early Triassic saw the creatures diversify and expand their ranges rapidly. This “radiation” eventually gave rise to archosaurs and later dinosaurs.

Drawing Parallels

The same factors that have driven anthropogenic global warming today drove global ecological collapse at the end of the Permian. An over-abundance of greenhouse gasses made the planet unlivable for most living organisms. Actually, the warming that initiated the End-Permian may have occurred at a much slower rate than anthropogenic global warming.

“It was the same climate change caused by the same greenhouse gasses as what we’re seeing today,” Elkins-Tanton says. “And it was almost the end of multicellular life on earth.”

However, climate scientists project that, if we can lower our emissions quickly enough, we can keep global warming to levels far below the ones that scorched the earth during the earth’s largest extinction event. It’s not too late to avoid total and complete ecological collapse.

“The rate of change might not have been as fast as today, but it changed the temperature so much that it’s really the worst-case scenario of what might happen,” David Bottjer says, paleoecologist and University of Southern California professor of earth sciences. “That’s why we should study it. To understand future scenarios for our climate.”

The future scenario, most-analogous to the End-Permian, would see humans continue to burn fossil fuels until few surviving organisms remained. It’s a scenario that may not represent the end of life on earth, but a fundamental change that would take millions of years to rebound from.

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How does coastal ocean acidification affect shellfish?

What factors lead to damage of coral reefs?

What is the main cause of ocean acidification?

water absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

Which marine organism is vulnerable to increased levels of ocean acidification?

Cephalopods play a crucial role in marine ecosystems as both predators and prey, linking various trophic levels and supporting biodiversity through their interactions with other species.

A decline in cephalopod populations due to acidification could cascade through marine ecosystems, potentially reducing biodiversity by impacting species that rely on them for food or ecological balance.

Which marine organism is vulnerable to increased levels of ocean acidification?

Ocean acidification disrupts the food chain by negatively affecting key prey species like zooplankton, which are vital for higher trophic levels, including cephalopods and marine predators.

Title:

Content: The Arctic region is currently undergoing rapid and significant changes, with acidification and warming occurring at alarming rates.
These shifts raise concerns about the resilience of marine communities in the face of such environmental shifts.
Marine zooplankton, especially copepods, play a crucial role in the Arctic food web.
However, differences in environmental conditions can disrupt zooplankton populations, leading to adverse consequences for the entire ecosystem.
Recent research has focused on understanding the extent to which copepods in early life are exposed to environmental stressors, as they represent a critical bottleneck in the copepods life cycle.
A study by Espinel Velasco et al.
(2023) Explore the responses of 4-day-old Kalanos Hyperborius Lenobli to acidification (pH 7.5 and 8.1) and warming (0 and 3 ° C), both individually and collectively.
The study revealed that the larvae 'breathing rates increased significantly when exposed to a combination of acidification and warming.
Surprisingly, exposure to these stressors individually did not produce the same effect.
Surprisingly, the researchers did not find any noticeable differences in fat content and fatty acid composition in the larvae across various experimental treatments.
Wax esters, which make up about 75% of the fat reserve, and high amounts of long-chain fatty acids 20: 1 and 22: 1, necessary for copepods to reproduce, have been detected in all treatments.
By highlighting the sensitivity of larvae to the combined effects of acidification and warming, this study aligns with a growing body of evidence from relevant research.
It highlights the potential impacts of global change on Arctic copepod populations and stresses the importance of understanding early life stage responses to environmental stressors.
Questions and Answers:
Q: What are zooplankton?
A: Zooplankton refers to small, often microscopic, organisms that drift into the ocean or other bodies of water and serve as one of the main sources of food for many marine species.
Q: What is the role of copepods in the Arctic food web?
A: Copepods, especially calanotic copepods such as Calanus Hyperboreus, are a critical component of the Arctic food web.
They serve as a vital link between primary producers (such as phytoplankton) and higher trophic levels, serving as a food source for various marine species.
Q: What is acidification?
A: Acidification refers to the process of increasing acidity (lowering pH) in seawater due to the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
This occurs as a result of human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels.
Q: How does global warming affect marine ecosystems?
A: Ocean warming can have various impacts on marine ecosystems, including changes in species distribution, changing reproductive cycles, and potential disruptions to the delicate balance of food webs.
Source: Frontiers in Marine Science, DOI: 10.3389 / fmars.2023.1240673

How do scientists expect ocean acidification to impact specific fish species?

Which marine organism is vulnerable to increased levels of ocean acidification?

Shelled organisms such as pteropods, which are crucial prey for many marine species, face challenges in maintaining their calcium carbonate shells under acidic conditions, with population declines during vulnerable life stages threatening the stability of food webs and carbon cycles.

At what stage of life are calcium carbonate-based organisms most vulnerable to changes in water pH?

How does coastal ocean acidification affect shellfish?

What do shellfish use to build their shells?

Which marine organism is vulnerable to increased levels of ocean acidification?

Which ocean creatures have trouble forming shells due to ocean acidification?

Ocean acidification indirectly impacts marine mammals like whales, dolphins, and seals by disrupting the food web, as acidification negatively affects organisms such as zooplankton and shellfish that form the base of their diet.

How does coastal ocean acidification affect shellfish?

Which marine organism is vulnerable to increased levels of ocean acidification?

Additionally, ocean acidification can alter the chemical composition of seawater, which may affect the sensory systems and behaviors of marine mammals, such as navigation and communication.

Which marine organism is vulnerable to increased levels of ocean acidification?

The combined effects of acidification and warming oceans exacerbate stress on marine ecosystems, potentially leading to habitat loss and reduced biodiversity, which are critical for the survival of marine mammals that rely on specific environmental conditions.

Title:

Content: • En
Rising average temperature, melting sea ice Arctic waters acidify faster than other oceans
Scientists warn that this acidification could worsen in the coming decades if sea ice continues to melt.
The rapid melting of Arctic sea ice caused by global warming makes it easier to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which accelerates the rate of ocean acidification.
(Photo / Associated Press)
Most people agree that the increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere caused by human activities is not only absorbed by forests, but also nearly a third of the world ’ s oceans. However, it is precisely because of the large increase in carbon dioxide needed to be absorbed that ocean acidification is rapidly worsening, especially in the polar regions.
Researchers from the Institute of Polar and Ocean Studies at Jimei University in Xiamen and the School of Marine Science and Policy at Dalawi University have found that rapid melting of Arctic sea ice due to global warming is exposing the lower sea water to the air, making it easier to absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide, thereby accelerating the rate of acidification.
Scientists have long believed that the rate of ocean acidification is related to the rate of increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, but the team looked at data from 1994 to 2020 and found that the Arctic Ocean acidified about three to four times faster than the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and even the Antarctic Ocean.
Scientists warn that this acidification could worsen in the coming decades if sea ice continues to melt.
Because of the Arctic amplification effect, the Arctic Circle has warmed up to four times the global average in the past 43 years, and as sea ice melts, the sea water will continue to be diluted and the pH will decrease, which will also reduce the ability of the sea to resist acidification.
In addition to the coral reefs that are most directly impacted, ocean acidification affects a wide range of areas and may even make some metals more toxic, although more detailed results may be needed for further analysis.
Updated: 2022-10-01 22: 05 GMT + 08: 00

How do scientists expect ocean acidification to impact specific fish species?

Which marine organism is vulnerable to increased levels of ocean acidification?

Ocean acidification disrupts the sensory systems of marine species, such as fish, by impairing their ability to detect and respond to environmental cues, including predator odors, which can lead to increased vulnerability and altered survival behaviors.

Title:

Content: Fish are becoming more suicidal due to climate change.
Archival Image
A recent scientific study revealed serious risks to fish stocks in various seas and oceans around the world, as a result of climate changes, where greenhouse gas emissions lead to increased acidity of water, prompting fish to commit suicide, attracted to large predatory fish.
The study, conducted by a team of researchers at James Cook University in Australia, aims to assess the impact of greenhouse gases that cause climate change on the coral reef area off the coast of Papua New Guinea, in the southwest Pacific Ocean, where the region is witnessing volcanic activity.
The results of the study showed that the high rate of acidity in the ocean waters, as a result of the escalation of carbon dioxide from repeated volcanic activities below the depths, leads to the loss of species of fish, on which fishing activity depends, their ability to survive, making them easy prey for other predatory species.
The study, published on the site « Nature Climate Change », that fish in general can smell the smell of large predatory species, which helps them to get off track, but surprise that in the area under study, it turns out that fish are attracted to the smell of predatory species, making them easy prey.
Lead researcher Professor Philippe Mendai said the acidity effect of the water has also been shown to cause fish to wander aimlessly into the water and go to areas far from where they live, putting them at risk, where they are more likely to be attacked by predatory fish.
The main author of the study pointed out that these threats to fish are not limited to volcanic activities, noting that about 30% of the carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere are absorbed by water bodies, leading to increased acidity of the seas and oceans.
The researchers also warned that the acidity levels in the coral reef area in question have reached very high levels and are expected to spread to other areas, and may include the entire Pacific Ocean by the end of this century, as the phenomenon of climate change worsens.
The study concluded that fish that live for long periods of life exposed to high levels of carbon dioxide, could not cope with the changes caused by high acidity in the water, as a result of exposure to high levels of carbon emissions permanently.
Source: News Today
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How do scientists expect ocean acidification to impact specific fish species?

it will affect their survival
it will alter their key behaviors

How does elevated water acidity affect fish ability to survive?

fish becomes easy prey for other predators

Which abilities of sharks and reef fish are impacted by ocean acidification?

Acidification can affect the nervous systems of marine animals, including reef fish and sharks, by altering their ability to track odors, which is critical for navigation, foraging, and communication within their ecosystems.

Title:

Content: 21: 00, November 15, 2023
2 min.
How climate change is changing the brain and behavior of animals
Due to global warming caused by human activities, the habitat on Earth is changing more and more.
This leads to an increase in temperature, rapid changes in rainfall and seasons, and ocean acidification.
How do animals deal with this?
Population Connection
In the response of animals to climate change, their nervous system plays a key role.
Due to its basic functions (sense detection, mental processing of information, behavior control), animals are oriented in the environment, can survive and reproduce.
Because of temperature changes, the energy balance of ecosystems is changing.
It is likely that this will also affect their basic senses, from sight and taste to smell and touch.
Mammals partially perceive temperature with the help of special receptor proteins in their nervous system.
These proteins respond to heat and cold, helping to distinguish between moderate and extreme temperatures.
Due to these proteins, animals can also look for a suitable habitat.
GETTY
Climate change disrupts the environmental signals that animals rely on when choosing their habitat, finding food, and partners.
Temperature shifts, for example, change where and when mosquitoes look for hosts, how they transmit diseases.
In addition, seasonal changes in daylight can lead to disconnection between daylight hours and flowering and fruiting of plants, changes in hibernation and migration of animals, when daylight hours no longer predict the availability of resources.
Due to the increase in temperature, the development and functioning of the brain of animals can be
This could also potentially affect their ability to adapt effectively to new habitats.
Scientists have found out how extreme temperatures can change individual neurons at the genetic and structural levels, the structure of the brain as a whole.
For example, in the marine environment, ocean acidification can affect the tracking of odors in reef fish and sharks.
Because of climate change, animals can change their habitat.
These behavioral shifts will change the structure of ecosystems around the world with complex and unpredictable consequences.
It is known that the brain of animals is very flexible and can significantly change even in adults.
However, studies have revealed a strong influence of the environment on the evolution of the brain.
Most likely, the new climatic regimes will eventually form nervous systems, causing them to develop.
https: / / vp.rambler.ru / player / embed.html? widget = Player & id = 2122398

How do scientists expect ocean acidification to impact specific fish species?

it will affect their physiology and growth

How does increased water acidity affect fish movement?

Which abilities of sharks and reef fish are impacted by ocean acidification?

In addition to sensory impacts, acidified waters enhance sound transmission, which can disrupt the acoustic communication of marine mammals and other species, further complicating their ability to locate mates, avoid predators, and maintain ecosystem balance.

Title:

Content: The underwater world is often seen as a silent and quiet place.
However, this idea cannot be further from the truth.
Contrary to popular belief, the ocean is teeming with sounds, ranging from the painful songs of humpback whales to the complex communication networks of different fish species.
In fact, sound travels faster and farther in water than in air, making it a staple of marine life.
It is fascinating to think about how our understanding of the oceans and their inhabitants has evolved over time.
In 1943, French engineer Émile Gagnon and naval lieutenant Jacques Cousteau invented the underwater breathing device (SCUBA), which revolutionized our ability to explore the depths of the sea.
Through his groundbreaking television documentaries, Cousteau has played a crucial role in promoting and illuminating the wonders of ocean life, as David Attenborough does today.
Throughout history, we have wrongly viewed the ocean as a silent world.
Our ears, attuned to airborne vibrations, struggle to perceive the underwater acoustic scene.
Cousteau himself believed that the voice was absent in the depths.
However, we now know that the ocean is a symphony of sounds, in which marine organisms use complex sounds to communicate, navigate, and hunt.
But as with many environmental challenges, human activity has upset this delicate balance.
Noise pollution from sources such as ship engines, wind turbine installations and offshore drills has been increasing steadily since the Industrial Revolution.
The constant tinnitus of underwater noise has forced marine animals, such as whales, to shout louder to be heard amid dissonance.
Unfortunately, a new study from Utrecht University brings more disturbing news.
The researchers found that warming oceans, due to climate change, is exacerbating the problem of underwater noise pollution.
Warmer, more acidic waters enhance sound transmission through the water, making the ocean more noisy.
Climate change will also stratify the North Atlantic, creating an “acoustic channel ” that allows noise to travel further.
The impact of this increased underwater noise pollution is significant and far-reaching.
Marine life relies on sound for survival, from finding mates to locating food and avoiding predators.
Disturbing acoustic landscapes can disrupt these vital processes, leading to a low population and ecosystem imbalance.
To protect the acoustic sensitive environment of the oceans, it is essential to reduce man-made sources of underwater noise and mitigate the effects of climate change.
More stringent regulations on shipping, construction activities and naval exercises could help reduce the impact.
In addition, advocacy for sustainable practices and conservation of marine habitats is essential to maintaining the natural acoustic landscape of our oceans.
So, the next time you contemplate the breadth of the ocean, remember that beneath its seemingly calm surface is a world full of vitality and sound – a world that we must strive to protect for the sake of all its inhabitants.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How was the underwater respirator (SCUBA) invented?
A: The underwater respirator (Scuba) was invented in 1943 by French engineer Émile Gagnon and naval lieutenant Jacques Cousteau.
Q: How has our understanding of the acoustic landscape of the oceans changed over time?
A: At first, the ocean was thought to be silent.
However, we now know that the underwater world is full of a variety of sounds, from whale songs to ways of communication between different fish species.
Q: How does underwater noise pollution affect marine life?
A: Noise pollution disrupts vital communications and navigation processes for marine animals, leading to a potential reduction in their numbers and ecosystem imbalance.
Q: How does climate change contribute to underwater noise pollution?
A: Rising ocean temperature and increasing acidity, due to climate change, enhance the transmission of sound through water, making the underwater acoustic scene louder and more disturbing.
Q: What can be done to mitigate underwater noise pollution?
A: Implementing stricter regulations on man-made underwater noise sources and taking steps to address climate change can help mitigate the impact of underwater noise pollution on marine life.
Source: Utrecht University https: / / www.utrechtuniversity.nl /

How do scientists expect ocean acidification to impact specific fish species?

What impact does ocean acidity have on sound transmission?

ocean acidity enhance sound transmission through water

Which marine organism is vulnerable to increased levels of ocean acidification?

The early life stages of fish, such as eggs and larvae, are particularly vulnerable to ocean acidification, as it can reduce hatching success, growth rates, and survival, thereby threatening the replenishment of adult populations.

At what stage of life are calcium carbonate-based organisms most vulnerable to changes in water pH?

How do scientists expect ocean acidification to impact specific fish species?

it will affect their physiology and growth

How does elevated water acidity affect fish ability to survive?

High acidity levels in ocean waters can disrupt fish behavior, making them more susceptible to predation by impairing their ability to detect and avoid predators, which could lead to declines in fish stocks and biodiversity.

How do scientists expect ocean acidification to impact specific fish species?

it will affect their survival
it will alter their key behaviors

How does elevated water acidity affect fish ability to survive?

fish becomes easy prey for other predators

Ocean acidification disrupts the ability of plankton species, such as pteropods, to form and maintain their calcium carbonate shells, which are essential for their survival, leading to population declines and threatening their role as a foundational food source in marine ecosystems.

How does coastal ocean acidification affect shellfish?

What do shellfish use to build their shells?

Which marine organism is vulnerable to increased levels of ocean acidification?

Which ocean creatures have trouble forming shells due to ocean acidification?

The vulnerability of plankton species to acidification cascades through marine food webs, as their decline impacts higher trophic levels, including fish and marine mammals that rely on them for sustenance, potentially destabilizing entire ecosystems.

How do scientists expect ocean acidification to impact specific fish species?

How does elevated water acidity affect fish ability to survive?

Which marine organism is vulnerable to increased levels of ocean acidification?

Ocean acidification is having a pronounced impact in polar regions, such as the Arctic, where rapid sea ice melting accelerates the absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide, leading to acidification rates three to four times faster than other oceans and threatening marine ecosystems reliant on calcium carbonate structures.

What factors lead to damage of coral reefs?

What is the main cause of ocean acidification?

water absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

Which of the world's oceans is acidifying at the fastest rate?

Which regions are most affected by ocean acidification?

In the Arabian Gulf, ocean acidification combined with warming is significantly affecting shrimp populations, with studies showing high mortality rates in shrimp larvae under low pH and elevated temperatures, which could lead to reduced stocks and ecosystem disruptions.

At what stage of life are calcium carbonate-based organisms most vulnerable to changes in water pH?

How do scientists expect ocean acidification to impact specific fish species?

How does coastal ocean acidification affect shellfish?

Ocean acidification has significant implications for marine species with cultural and economic importance, such as cephalopods, as it alters the chemistry of seawater and impacts their habitats and food sources, potentially disrupting ecosystems and fisheries that communities rely on for sustenance and income.

Title:

Content: Thin fish, small catches: can Japan’s sushi culture survive climate crisis?

·5 min read

There is little at Shiogama seafood market to suggest that Japanese consumers could one day be deprived of their favourite seafood – from giant crab’s legs simmering in a winter nabe hotpot to spheres of salmon roe resting on a bed of rice wrapped in nori seaweed.

Stalls heave with huge sides of bluefin tuna, expertly transformed into more manageable portions by knife-wielding workers, while early-morning shoppers pause to inspect boxes of squid, flounder and sea pineapples landed only hours earlier.

Despite the bounty on display in this small port town, a growing body of scientific evidence – backed up by anecdotes from fishermen – points to a bleak future for Japanese cuisine as a result of the climate emergency.

Miki Seino, a Shiogama stallholder, flashes a look of weary recognition when the Observer points at her display of sanma – or Pacific saury – an autumn delicacy in Japan, where it is often served grilled or raw as sushi and sashimi.

“The catches are smaller, and the fish are thinner than they were a few years ago. We have heard about how rising sea temperatures are affecting catches here in Tohoku,” said Seino, referring to the region in north-east Japan. “And they are a lot more expensive now.”

Japan’s fisheries agency has cited changes in the marine environment due to global heating as the cause of smaller catches of saury, as well as squid, salmon and other staples of the Japanese diet.

The emergence of warm water masses in the Kuroshio – a warm north-easterly ocean current off the east coast of Japan – has pushed saury’s spawning migratory path further offshore, where food is less plentiful, resulting in depleted stocks and poorer quality fish.

Dr Aiko Yamauchi, vice-president of Seafood Legacy, a Japan-based consulting firm that supports sustainable seafood businesses and environmental groups, says catches of species venerated by the Japanese have been in steep decline since 2014.

It is possible, Yamauchi said, “that other fish species will experience poor catches similar to or worse than at present. We are very concerned that if this happens, the majority of Japanese fisheries, which supply around half of the country’s seafood, will be exposed to serious damage.”

Hundreds of miles south-west of Shiogama, fishing communities in Kochi prefecture are fretting over large catches of unusually fatty skipjack tuna, a local delicacy often eaten raw.

Kochi’s arc-shaped bay has traditionally been a fertile fishing ground, but bigger fish could be a warning rather than a blessing. The average surface temperature of the bay in winter has risen by 2C over the past four decades – meaning there is more food for the fish. But in the long term, warmer waters could spell disaster, preventing mineral-rich water from rising to the surface, resulting in fewer smaller fish to feed on – and fewer skipjack tuna.

Shin-ichi Ito, a professor at Tokyo University’s Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, said rising sea temperatures meant some species, including yellowtail and Spanish mackerel, were now being found in unusual locations.

“These species are being caught further north than they were 10 years ago, and this could be the result of climate change,” he said, adding that other hardy perennials of Japanese cuisine were under threat, including kelp on the northernmost main island of Hokkaido and, near the mouth of Tokyo Bay, seaweed used to make nori.

Not even sushi’s pungent accompaniment is safe, according to experts. They say the increasing frequency and severity of storms is destroying wasabi farms, while rising temperatures are threatening farmers’ ability to cultivate the delicate vegetable, which can only grow in water kept at a consistent 10-15C throughout the year.

Salmon, another sushi staple, is also at risk, Ito said. “Fish are unable to control their own body temperatures … the only option is for them to migrate northwards.” Simulations of sea temperature changes, he added, suggest that salmon could disappear from the waters around Hokkaido in Japan’s far north in a matter of decades.

“These changes will inevitably affect the Japanese diet as some species disappear, but they also mean we will see more invasive species,” he said.

A future in which crustaceans have disappeared from the menu seems unthinkable, but ocean acidification risks making that a reality. A rise in seawater temperature makes it more difficult for shellfish and crustaceans to form calcium carbonate, adversely affecting the growth of popular seafood such as scallops, clams and oysters, as well as crabs and shrimps.

“Most people can’t grasp how serious these problems are because they feel they will occur far into the future after they are long gone,” Ito said. “What happens in the year 2100 isn’t their problem … but we are at a tipping point now.”

Jun Hoshikawa has witnessed changes to the local catch first-hand from his home on Yakushima island, a Unesco world natural heritage site of natural beauty where he has lived for four decades. He is seeing fewer yellowtail, but bigger numbers of fish that used to be found further south. “The northern shift in habitats is likely to become a wider trend for many marine species as a result of rising sea temperatures”, said Hoshikawa, a former executive director of Greenpeace Japan.

“Unfortunately, most Japanese people haven’t yet noticed the subtle changes in the seafood they’re eating, although I expect that to change in the coming years.”

As mid-morning approaches, Shiogama market is filling up with regular customers and tourists who can mix and match ingredients to create their own kaisen donburi – raw seafood on rice, seasoned with soy sauce and wasabi.

The dish is a celebration of local produce that changes with the passing months. Seino, though, wonders for how long. “We are selling fish in the autumn and winter that we used to have only in the summer,” she said. “It feels like the seasons don’t matter any more.”

Reuters contributed reporting

How do scientists expect ocean acidification to impact specific fish species?

How does elevated water acidity affect fish ability to survive?

Which marine organism is vulnerable to increased levels of ocean acidification?

Interactive activities like beach clean-ups and waste sorting games can effectively engage students in understanding the impact of human actions on marine ecosystems, including ocean acidification, by combining physical effort with educational content about pollution and its consequences on biodiversity.

Title:

Content: LOCAL LIFE: Youth made aware of the dangers of pollution | FAXINFO

As part of the training for the Professional Certificate for Youth, Popular Education and Sport, Aquatic Activities and Swimming, Abiola Dessout, future lifeguard, presented this Sunday, March 12 her awareness day on the protection of the ocean on the Galion beach.

During this morning entitled “Save Your Ocean! », Abiola, assisted by a motivated team, welcomed 18 children aged 6 to 10 on the Galion beach in order to raise their awareness of eco-responsible actions, the preservation of biodiversity and the disastrous consequences of pollution on the oceans. . The children quickly discovered the ravages of this scourge caused by humans and boats that pollute every day. The accumulated waste forms a seventh continent called the plastic vortex whose area of 1,6 million km2 is three times the size of France. Young people have learned to adopt the right reflexes to limit waste and have a positive impact: throw waste in the new selective sorting bins by now mastering the color codes (grey for non-recyclable, blue for paper, yellow for plastic, red for metal and green for glass), use water bottles instead of plastic bottles, use reusable cutlery, tote bags or shopping bags and favor the wooden toothbrush. Other panels made by Abiola were placed on the Galion beach, including one containing the glossary of the morning's keywords: waste, biodiversity, flora, fauna, pollution, recycling and selective sorting. Through a playful game, the children were then divided into groups in order to begin activities such as BingOcean. Provided with a card listing several elements, each group started looking for different waste hidden around. Through this exercise, the children were able to identify waste and sort it wisely. After a snack to regain energy and sharpen their concentration, the youth got ready for the Grand Triathlon concocted by Abiola: run, swim, pick up some waste and put it in the right sorting bin.

The children did not lack speed and motivation for this aquatic activity combining physical effort and education. With the waste collected during the animation, the little participants created a collective work of art. After a quiz where the holders of the correct answer won a symbolic medal, each child proudly received a “good sorter” diploma. Abiola would like to thank the Tous à l'Ô association for its logistical support, Cécile and Jennifer for raising awareness and carrying out the activities, the support of the public as well as her training colleagues for their help in terms of surveillance and water games. _Vx

Source: Faxinfo https://faxinfo.fr/en/vie-locale-la-jeunesse-sensibilisee-aux-dangers-de-la-pollution/

Creative approaches like transforming marine waste into art pieces or hosting exhibitions can inspire reflection on ocean health and encourage students to think critically about the effects of acidification and pollution on ecosystems.

Title:

Content: Local Local Focus
Taitung University ’ s USR Y-2 Project Wins the Silver Award of Asia ’ s Most Influential Design Award
▲ “Sea Waste Innovation Education Exhibition ” won the“ DFA Asia ’ s Most Influential Design Award ” Silver Award in the Service and Experience Design category. (Photo by reporter Yang Han-sheng)
Journalist Yang Han-sheng / reporting from Taitung
The USR Taitung Y2 Project of National Taitung University has developed the "Cross-disciplinary Course Module on University Social Responsibility" and launched a cross-disciplinary integration course to lead students from different disciplines to explore topics across different disciplines.
Among them, the “Nature Education Training and Development ” curriculum was jointly curated and the“ Sea Waste Innovation Education Exhibition ” was awarded the Silver Award in the “Service & Experience Design ” category of the Design For Asia Awards (DFA) in the International Design Competition 2023.
The exhibition will be on display from 18th to 23rd at Fushan Experimental Primary School in Peinan Township, Taitung.
The “Nature Education Training and Development ” course takes the surrounding area of the Carolan tribe as an exploration area, from understanding the local sea-woman culture, the ocean, the coast to the sea-bottom waste, to stimulate students to reflect, and to clean the beach for the local efforts, the collected sea waste for design thinking and creation.
Through interactive display, visitors will be prompted to reflect, and the four pieces of thought-provoking works jointly created and designed will be integrated into a mobile touring exhibition form of "Sea Waste Creativity Education Exhibition".
Professor Wen Zhuomou, director of the Shanhai Center, said that the sustainable development goal SDG14 project marine conservation ecology, combined with the University's social responsibility USR program to promote and operate, so that the "sea waste creation education exhibition" on the world stage.
Chen Chun-wei, a co-lecturer of the Department of Digital Media and Education, explained that the exhibition is designed with experiential learning and design thinking for the purpose of environmental sustainability and natural education.
Using marine waste as a material, by understanding the ocean experience and the process of beach cleaning to sea waste creation, the coastal line as the core of natural environment education, social reflection and practice, so as to re-understand and understand the situation of the ocean, in order to “implement social responsibility practices and promote SDG14 marine ecology conservation ”.
The “Sea Waste Innovation and Education Exhibition ” will continue to promote marine environmental conservation along the eastern coast, so that students and the public can understand the size of the ocean world in which they live, and there will be more opportunities for marine waste created by humans.
The exhibition will also present the process from ocean experience, beach cleaning and sea waste creation, so that everyone cherishes the ocean as a family, and work together to "create a better future for the mountains, the sea and the sand city."
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Incorporating technology-driven learning experiences, such as monitoring marine ecosystems through IoT and Arduino programming, can deepen students' understanding of biodiversity and the role of organisms like cephalopods in maintaining ecological balance, while highlighting the threats posed by acidification.

Title:

Content: Campus Corner ｜ Yan Chai Hospital NICE Po Memorial Secondary School Opens "Marine Ecology Classroom"
Author: School Submission
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Environmental protection and sustainable development are important issues in today ’ s society.
Sai Kung District Subsidized Secondary School Yan Chai Hospital Ren Tse Po Memorial Secondary School has invested about $200,000 to develop and set up a “Marine Ecology Classroom ” to connect students at all levels with the understanding of marine ecology, including providing junior high school students with realistic observation of marine life and understanding of biodiversity; and high school students understand the role of coral reefs in maintaining ecological balance through coral breeding.
The “Ocean Ecology Classroom ” also uses school-based technology for research and development, including IoT technology, Arduino programming, etc. Students can monitor water level, temperature and other data through the mobile app, and use the mobile phone to remotely control water, feed, switch lights, etc.
(Content provided by Yan Chai Hospital Ren Tse Po Memorial Secondary School)
Yan Chai Hospital Ren Chi Po Memorial Secondary School ’ s Integrated Science and Biology curriculum often uses marine ecology and the creatures therein as examples of learning. According to Professor Chan Wai-lin, STEM Education Development Coordinator and Director of Integrated Science, the Ocean Ecology Classroom provides students at different levels with realistic observations related to the ocean. It is easier to generate ideas and interests than paper.
"Another example is the water filtration equipment in the fish tank, which used to be nothing but empty talk, but now you can explain the principle of operation to students in real terms, and students can also see the effectiveness of different water purification equipment in real time."
Breeding Corals Understand Different Breeding Methods
The Marine Ecology Classroom provides cross-level learning materials for students at all levels. In the Junior Secondary Integrated Science Course, students can clearly distinguish between asexual and sexual reproduction by teaching them two different methods of reproduction. Students can also try artificial reproduction to understand the process of asexual reproduction. The Marine Ecology Classroom also provides students with a hands-on observation of coral reefs. This is an opportunity to learn about the physical characteristics and habits of adaptive habitats, the interrelationships among coral reef organisms, the importance of biodiversity, and the importance of coral conservation by learning about the role of coral reefs in maintaining ecological balance.
Professor Au Kwok-wai, Director of Biology and Science Learning Area Co-ordinator, said that the school was one of the first schools to participate in the Coral Conservation Education Programme co-organised by the Faculty of Life Sciences, the Coral School and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Teachers and students cultivate beneficial nitrifying bacteria in the coral tanks on the campus. When the coral tanks meet the water quality requirements, the school receives about 20 pieces of local coral debris and begins the coral culture process for about eight months.
The primary responsibility for coral conservation lies with Secondary Four students. Teachers and students are responsible for the daily care of coral, including regular monitoring of water quality, coral health and submission of data.
Mr. Ou said that the original plan was for the students to follow the CUHK team to the sea area around the Chimen Strait where the corals were placed, to see the corals carefully taken care of and returned to the sea by professional divers, but it was not arranged under the epidemic.
Students participate in CUHK coral culture Global warming impacts marine ecology
Ms Tam, a Form 5 student involved in the whole process of coral cultivation, said that although she knew that corals were an important part of the ocean, she had never touched coral bodies in the past.
Through the school ’ s “Marine Ecology Classroom ” and participating in the“ Coral Cultivation Campus Project ”, she was able to get close to the coral and carry out daily care work for the coral, so that the healthy growth of the coral can be ensured and eventually returned to the sea.
Ms Tam, who studied biology, began to participate in the coral culture project. She said that she had encountered an impressive accident during the breeding process. "After returning to school after the holidays, she found that the LED lamp used in the coral tank fell into the fish culture tank, worried about the health of the coral, and finally decided to send the coral back to CUHK for treatment.
She said that after participating in the school ’ s environmental conservation activities, she understood that marine pollution caused a lot of damage to coral.
If you can successfully enter university, you want to focus on the field of biological research and contribute to environmental conservation.
Wu, who also attaches great importance to environmental protection, said that in the past, she participated in the water quality testing activities of Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park, saw the real coral ecology in the ocean, and was worried about the increasing coral bleaching under global warming, and decided to do a little for conservation.
She was delighted to see coral growth through the weekly monitoring of coral growth in her school.
Marine ecology classroom with school-based scientific research mobile app full monitoring
“Ocean Ecology Classroom ” uses school-based technologies, including IoT and Arduino programming. Students can monitor water level, temperature and other data through mobile apps, and use mobile phones to remotely control water, feed, switch lights, etc., while using Arduino programming, they can control peristaltic pumps to replenish trace elements.
In the research and development process, students are all using open source software, and can apply the relevant research results to their homes or other places where they need it, such as the fish tank of their parents' company.
Vice Principal Kuo hopes that through the Ocean Life Classroom, students can apply STEM technology throughout the secondary school stage to gain a systematic and interdisciplinary understanding of environmental conservation and contribute to the sustainable development of the planet.
He added that the school had arranged visits to Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park in the past to help students understand the importance of marine safety.
However, in the past two years, students have not been arranged to visit places outside Hong Kong. “I hope that after the epidemic has eased, exchange activities can be rescheduled, such as visiting coral conservation areas in the Mainland, so that students can get in touch with and understand coral conservation and enhance conservation awareness. ”
Mr Chan also said that in order to cultivate students' concern for environmental protection and ecological sustainable development, the school has also made great efforts to develop projects related to garden conservation. "In 18 years, typhoon mangoku has destroyed a lot of trees, and some of the trees in the school can not be spared. The Department's Garden Waste Recycling Centre in Tuen Mun has applied for recycled wood to make solid wood furniture to encourage students to contribute more to environmental conservation by taking part in the process of" upgrading and recycling ".
(Content provided by Yan Chai Hospital Ren Tse Po Memorial Secondary School)
All secondary schools, primary schools and kindergartens are welcome to submit their contributions to Campus 01. Interested parties can send their contributions and photos to campus01 @ hk01.com.
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