Rising Ocean Acidity Threatens Marine Life Fertilisation

by tiha zaman | August 15, 2008 at 03:32 am

1546 views | 41 Recommendations | 27 comments

The Greek sea God, Poseidon must have been having a bad year, as well as the past 365,000 years I believe.

Because not only are the jellyfishes taking over the ocean (caused by the rising sea temperature), and the devastating damage to important reefs all over the world but now the significant rise of acidity level in the ocean could eliminate the colonies of sea organism such as mussels, sea urchins, lobsters and oysters as well.

SYDNEY (Reuters) - 15th August, 2008 - Rising acidification of the ocean could reduce fertilisation of marine invertebrates and might eventually wipe out colonies of sea urchins, lobsters, mussels and oysters, according to a study

Climate change and the subsequent acidification of the world's oceans will significantly reduce the successful fertilisation of certain marine species.

For years, marine scientists knew that the acidification of ocean could dissolve away shells of marine crustaceans such as lobsters and oysters.

But recent study shows that the rising acidity not only affect the shells but also prevented the marine eggs to be fertilised. Therefore hurting the reproduction percentage of marine species to an all time low. And it will only worsen through the years.

Lead-scientist Jane Williamson from Macquarie University told Reuters that;

"We were completely surprised becuse people had been looking at the effect of acidification on calcified structures of marine animals, but there was no evidence to suggest it was affecting non-calcified structures, like a a sperm or an egg."

The ocean acidification which is expected to expand and spread north from Antartic by year 2100 has made it impossible from building of shells and skeletons for some marine animals as well as making coral reefs struggled to survive (and vulnerable as they could be wiped out by tropical storms).

By 2100, it is expected that some reefs will become marginal and reef calcification will decline

The cause of this acidity is created by excess atmospheric carbon dioxide (Co2) which dissolves into the ocean waters and forms carbonic acid (weak acid).

The current Co2 level are much higher since the start of Industrial revolution in the 19th century which reported a 30% rise then. However by the end of 21st century, the level of Co2 could go up to 150% in the atmosphere.

The experiment found that in water with acidity at 7.7, the sperm swam much more slowly and began failing to meet the eggs.

Fertilisation fell by 25 percent and in almost 26 percent of cases where eggs were fertilised they did not survive to develop into larvae.

And this concertrated acidity level of 7.7 are already detected and observed in patches of oceans in the West Coast of the United States.

In the Greek myth, Poseidon used to live in the depths of the seas, bejewelled with precious reefs and surrounded by marine lifes -- now, he would see what a different place the oceanic world has become and one day, all that is life would be barren and gone.

(NP contributor Emilio Lizardo has also written a similar topic on this about Coral Reef's Catastrophe)

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Paschen

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 05:10 on August 15th, 2008

tiha zaman, I like this story. It's good stuff.

And yet, we still have to many pretending all is fine and even saying Human have no impact on life or changes that have been affecting our climate and fauna!

The University in Tokyo has been doing some extensive research and tried to find a way to save the Japanese coral reefs, the results so far look rather catastrophic with no hope in sight!

tiha zaman

at 05:36 on August 15th, 2008

Thanks Uwe, Malaysian beautiful Pangkor's reefs are also facing an inevitable wipe out.

(Pic taken - May 2008)

Emilio Lizardo

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 07:14 on August 15th, 2008

I like this story. It's good stuff.

Something's definately wrong with the oceans! Raising awareness is very positive work. Nice post, tiha!

moogiem

at 07:40 on August 15th, 2008

I took this photo at the Santa Monica Aquarium - a really small space underneath the pier. I thought the colors were pretty, coming from the blacklight- as if the jellyfish were glowing.

moogiem has contributed a photo to this story.

lfowler

at 07:54 on August 15th, 2008

Photo of a Moon Jellyfish from The Baths at Norman Island, British Virgin Islands.

lfowler has contributed a photo to this story.

Smiley2 (not verified)

at 08:00 on August 15th, 2008

when the sea is dead we will be in big trouble these are vast areas of floating plastics

Vinny

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 08:36 on August 15th, 2008

generaldecay

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 09:16 on August 15th, 2008

tiha zaman, I'm not going to comment on this story because I am woefully uninformed about these matters, but I wanted to GS you for the way you have presented this post. You have used different sources, highlighted, and added a lot of your own commentary. It's good work, and to be encoouraged here on NP.

tiha zaman

at 09:23 on August 15th, 2008

How lovely. Thanks so much. Since I am also not an authority in this, I make it point not to credit the informations written, to myself. But the news is an interest of mine, so I try to tell it in such a way that I would enjoy reading it and that any lay man can also read it, undertstand the issue and appreciate it. Eventhough we're all on the same boat of cluelessness. :)

generaldecay

at 09:35 on August 15th, 2008

And you have told it in just that way. I feel like I have gained some much needed knowledge. Although I'm still firmly on the clueless boat!

Amy Judd

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 09:29 on August 15th, 2008

tiha zaman, I like this story. It's good stuff.

The oceans are in real trouble - this is so scary.

c.marsh

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 09:36 on August 15th, 2008

tiha zaman, I like this story. It's good stuff.

glad to be able to let you use my photos for it.

Scoobification

at 09:41 on August 15th, 2008

Taken at the Monterey California Aquarium.

Scoobification has contributed a photo to this story.

benyeuda

at 10:03 on August 15th, 2008

The Coral reefs of Eilat are indeed dying slowly, and in the areas outside the natural reserve, corals and fish are rare and far between. In this natural reserve, however, corals reefs are still thriving and 1000s of tropical fish and sea creatures are easily seen. Lets try to keep it this way

benyeuda has contributed a photo to this story.

pstarfill

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 10:33 on August 15th, 2008

tiha zaman, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Whirling Phoenix

at 11:07 on August 15th, 2008

This was taken on the California coast, near Monterey.

Whirling Phoenix has contributed a photo to this story.

michaelv2008

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 11:53 on August 15th, 2008

tiha zaman, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Global warming, climate change, whatever the government calls it these days the fact of the matter is the ocean world is in danger. Glaciers melting, oceans rising, weird weather, pollutions, all these are caused by humanity and all those little creatures under the sea are paying for are cruelty.

BallyZACA

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 12:54 on August 15th, 2008

tiha zaman, I like this story. It's good stuff.

The ecology of our oceans are tenuous at best, we're just becoming aware how everything is connected... the so-called "Butterfly Effect" is appearing to be real.

budgrrl8

at 13:05 on August 15th, 2008

Large sea urchin (one of many) living inside the saltwater moat at Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas National Park, in the Gulf of Mexico.

budgrrl8 has contributed a photo to this story.

alexandra2008

at 13:50 on August 15th, 2008

Found in Crandon Park, Key Biscayne, FL - August 2008

alexandra2008 has contributed a photo to this story.

PlanMyGreen

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 15:02 on August 15th, 2008

tiha zaman, I like this story. It's good stuff. It is too easy to find pictures of coral bleaching and marine destruction from all corners of the seas. It amazes me that we continue to allow sewage and trash to be dumped directly into the ocean. http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN2230092520080423

It does not take anything more than common sense to know this is not a good practice.

hibiscus101

at 16:27 on August 15th, 2008

This is simply a photo taken at the New England Aquairium of the sea urchin it its habitat.

hibiscus101 has contributed a photo to this story.

aquaenvironment.biz

at 16:58 on August 15th, 2008

This is a sea urchin from an aquarium that www.aquaenvironment.biz cares for.

aquaenvironment.biz has contributed a photo to this story.

RobbertV

at 01:37 on August 16th, 2008

This is a close-up shot of a sea urchin in Greece.
It's the only one of 10 pictures i took from this one that was sharp.

RobbertV has contributed a photo to this story.

bmckssck

at 13:10 on August 17th, 2008

The reefs off Boyton Beach, FL are healthy, beautiful and full of marine life. The McKissock Dive Team recommends that you visit them and we support all public action to nuture this amazing habitat.

bmckssck has contributed a photo to this story.

michelleyulo23

at 13:37 on August 20th, 2008

I was in the beach havin a nice time, one afternoon it was lowtide and I've seen a lot of sea creatures like strange worms( i think) then sea urchins just like in this pic and also tons of starfish, different colors and sizes. There is more of this , you can see it in my flickr acount. It's really amazing!

michelleyulo23 has contributed a photo to this story.

Mark Cummins

at 05:59 on August 24th, 2008

Interesting thread. This subject matter is urgent, I'd like to see more urgency. Anyway, happy to offer images where they are required anytime. I will come back and join in here, some interesting debate happening.

Thanks. Mark :)

Mark Cummins has contributed a photo to this story.