13.2 Ocean ecosystem impacts and marine life
3 min read•july 22, 2024
Ocean acidification and warming are wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems. As CO2 levels rise, oceans absorb more, lowering pH and making it harder for organisms to build shells. are especially vulnerable, with bleaching events becoming more frequent and severe.
Climate change is altering ocean circulation patterns and marine species distributions. Changes in wind patterns and water stratification affect nutrient availability, while rising temperatures force species to migrate poleward. These shifts disrupt food webs and ecosystem balance.
Ocean Ecosystem Impacts
Impacts of ocean acidification
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- Ocean acidification occurs when atmospheric CO2 dissolves in seawater, lowering the pH
- Increased CO2 absorption leads to the formation of carbonic acid ()
- Carbonic acid dissociates into hydrogen ions () and bicarbonate ions ()
- Higher concentration reduces the pH, making the ocean more acidic
- Impacts on calcifying organisms
- Reduced availability of carbonate ions () due to increased
- Difficulty in building and maintaining calcium carbonate () shells and skeletons (corals, mollusks, echinoderms, some plankton)
- Physiological effects on marine life
- Impaired growth, reproduction, and survival rates
- Altered metabolic processes and energy allocation
- Increased vulnerability to diseases and other stressors (parasites, pollution)
- Ecosystem-level consequences
- Changes in species composition and food web dynamics
- Reduced biodiversity and altered community structure (loss of sensitive species, dominance of resilient ones)
- Potential cascading effects on ecosystem functioning and services (nutrient cycling, habitat provision, fisheries)
Effects on coral reefs
-
- Occurs when water temperatures exceed the corals' tolerance threshold
- Symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) are expelled from coral tissues
- Loss of algae leads to a white appearance and compromised coral health
- Increased frequency and severity of bleaching events
- Prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures causes mass bleaching (widespread coral bleaching across large areas)
- Insufficient recovery time between bleaching events
- Higher likelihood of coral mortality and reduced resilience
- Implications for
- Coral reefs are biodiversity hotspots, supporting a wide range of species (fish, invertebrates, algae)
- Loss of coral habitat leads to declines in fish populations and other reef-dependent organisms
- Reduced structural complexity and ecosystem services provided by reefs (coastal protection, tourism, fisheries)
- Potential local extinctions and shifts in species distributions (migration to more suitable habitats)
Ocean Circulation and Marine Species
Climate change and ocean circulation
- Changes in global wind patterns
- Altered intensity and location of major wind systems (trade winds, westerlies)
- Affects surface ocean currents and upwelling regions (nutrient-rich waters brought to the surface)
- Stratification of the water column
- Warmer surface waters lead to increased thermal stratification
- Reduced vertical mixing and exchange of nutrients and oxygen between surface and deep layers
- Impacts on nutrient distribution
- Decreased upwelling of nutrient-rich deep waters
- Reduced nutrient availability in surface layers (limiting primary productivity)
- Potential shifts in primary productivity and communities (changes in species composition and abundance)
- Consequences for marine ecosystems
- Altered regional productivity and food web dynamics
- Changes in the distribution and abundance of marine species (shifts in suitable habitats)
- Potential mismatch between prey availability and predator needs (disruption of trophic relationships)
Marine species distribution changes
- Shifts in species' geographical ranges
- Poleward migrations as species seek cooler waters (movement towards higher latitudes)
- Expansion or contraction of suitable habitats (changes in temperature, salinity, oxygen levels)
- Altered community composition and species interactions (new competitors, predators, prey)
- Changes in phenology and life cycles
- Earlier timing of seasonal events (reproduction, migration)
- Potential mismatches between species' life cycles and prey availability (disruption of synchronized ecological processes)
- Disruption of synchronized ecological processes (predator-prey relationships, nutrient cycling)
- Impacts on migratory species
- Altered migration routes and timing (changes in ocean currents, temperature gradients)
- Changes in the availability of key stopover sites and feeding grounds (loss or shift of suitable habitats)
- Potential effects on population dynamics and reproductive success (reduced survival, lower offspring production)
- Abundance and population dynamics
- Shifts in the balance between species' mortality and recruitment rates
- Altered competition and predator-prey relationships (changes in species interactions)
- Potential declines or local extinctions of vulnerable species (inability to adapt to changing conditions)
Key Terms to Review (17)
Biogeochemical Modeling: Biogeochemical modeling is a computational approach used to simulate the cycling of nutrients and elements through biological, geological, and chemical processes within ecosystems. This modeling helps scientists understand interactions among organisms, the environment, and various biogeochemical cycles, such as carbon and nitrogen cycles, especially in marine environments where these cycles significantly influence ocean ecosystem health and marine life dynamics.
Calcification: Calcification is the process by which living organisms produce calcium carbonate structures, such as shells and skeletons, often from dissolved calcium in seawater. This process is essential for many marine organisms, as it contributes to their growth and protection, playing a crucial role in ocean ecosystems and influencing marine biodiversity.
Coral bleaching: Coral bleaching occurs when corals lose their vibrant colors and become pale or white, typically due to stress factors like increased water temperatures, pollution, or changes in sunlight. This phenomenon affects the symbiotic relationship between corals and the algae (zooxanthellae) that live within them, providing essential nutrients and color to the coral. When stressed, corals expel these algae, leading to bleaching and making them more vulnerable to disease and mortality.
Coral reefs: Coral reefs are diverse underwater ecosystems formed by colonies of coral polyps that build calcium carbonate structures over time. These ecosystems support a wide variety of marine life, acting as essential habitats for numerous species and playing a vital role in maintaining the health of oceanic environments. They are often referred to as the 'rainforests of the sea' due to their high biodiversity and complex interactions between organisms.
El Niño: El Niño is a climate pattern characterized by the periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, significantly influencing global weather and climate. This phenomenon can disrupt normal weather patterns, leading to changes in precipitation, temperature, and storm activity around the world.
Eutrophication: Eutrophication is a process where water bodies become overly enriched with nutrients, often due to runoff from land, leading to excessive growth of algae and other aquatic plants. This phenomenon can significantly impact marine ecosystems by disrupting the balance of aquatic life, causing oxygen depletion, and harming water quality. The consequences of eutrophication extend beyond just the immediate ecosystem, affecting water resources used for drinking, recreation, and agriculture.
Keystone Species: A keystone species is an organism that plays a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community, influencing the types and numbers of various other species in the ecosystem. The removal or decline of a keystone species can lead to significant changes in the ecosystem, potentially resulting in the collapse of certain communities. This concept is especially important in understanding the dynamics of marine environments, where certain species can have outsized impacts on their surroundings.
Marine biodiversity: Marine biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms found in ocean ecosystems, including different species of plants, animals, and microorganisms. This diversity is crucial for maintaining the health and balance of marine environments, which provide essential services such as oxygen production, carbon storage, and nutrient cycling. A rich array of species helps to enhance ecosystem resilience, allowing marine systems to adapt to changes like climate shifts and pollution.
Marine Protected Areas: Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are designated regions in oceans, seas, and coastal areas where human activities are regulated or restricted to protect the natural environment and biodiversity. These areas aim to conserve marine life, ecosystems, and cultural resources while allowing for sustainable use of marine resources. MPAs play a crucial role in addressing the impacts of climate change and human activities on ocean ecosystems and their inhabitants.
Microplastics: Microplastics are tiny plastic particles measuring less than 5 millimeters in size, often resulting from the breakdown of larger plastic items or manufactured as microbeads in products like cosmetics. Their small size allows them to easily enter and persist in marine ecosystems, impacting various marine life forms and disrupting the overall health of ocean ecosystems.
Ocean stratification: Ocean stratification refers to the layering of water in the ocean based on differences in temperature, salinity, and density. This phenomenon creates distinct layers within the ocean, such as the warmer surface layer, the thermocline, and the colder deep water layer. The stratification plays a crucial role in determining nutrient availability, marine life distribution, and how ocean currents interact with the atmosphere.
Phytoplankton: Phytoplankton are microscopic, photosynthetic organisms that float in the upper layers of oceans and other bodies of water. They play a critical role in marine ecosystems as the primary producers, converting sunlight into energy and forming the base of the aquatic food web, influencing marine life and the overall health of ocean ecosystems.
Remote Sensing: Remote sensing is the technology and science of obtaining information about objects or areas from a distance, typically using satellite or aerial imagery. This method allows for the collection of data across various environmental contexts, such as monitoring ocean health, assessing weather patterns, managing water resources, and studying land ecosystems, making it a vital tool in understanding our planet's changing climate.
Sea Turtle Nesting: Sea turtle nesting refers to the process by which female sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs in sand nests, typically during the warmer months. This behavior is crucial for the reproductive cycle of sea turtles and directly influences population dynamics, as successful nesting and hatching are essential for the continuation of species. The nesting sites are often on coastal beaches, which can be affected by environmental changes, human activities, and marine ecosystem health.
Sustainable Fishing: Sustainable fishing refers to practices that maintain fish populations and the health of marine ecosystems while meeting current fishing demands. This approach balances the need for food and economic resources with the preservation of marine life, ensuring that fish stocks remain abundant for future generations. It encompasses various methods that minimize environmental impact, promote biodiversity, and support local communities reliant on fisheries.
Thermohaline circulation: Thermohaline circulation is the global conveyor belt of ocean currents driven by differences in temperature and salinity, which affect the density of seawater. This circulation plays a crucial role in regulating climate by transporting heat and nutrients across the oceans, influencing weather patterns, and supporting marine ecosystems. It connects various ocean basins and helps sustain marine life by redistributing essential elements throughout the water column.
Trophic Levels: Trophic levels are the hierarchical positions in a food chain or food web that define the roles of organisms based on their feeding relationships. Each level represents a different step in the transfer of energy and nutrients, beginning with primary producers and moving up to various levels of consumers. Understanding trophic levels is crucial for grasping how energy flows through ecosystems, which can be impacted by environmental changes in both marine and terrestrial habitats.