Global marine analysis suggests food chain collapse

[GliderGuider]

Global marine analysis suggests food chain collapse

Published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), marine ecologists from the University of Adelaide say the expected ocean acidification and warming is likely to produce a reduction in diversity and numbers of various key species that underpin marine ecosystems around the world.

“We know relatively little about how climate change will affect the marine environment,” says Professor Connell. “Until now, there has been almost total reliance on qualitative reviews and perspectives of potential global change. Where quantitative assessments exist, they typically focus on single stressors, single ecosystems or single species.

“This analysis combines the results of all these experiments to study the combined effects of multiple stressors on whole communities, including species interactions and different measures of responses to climate change.”

The researchers found that there would be “limited scope” for acclimation to warmer waters and acidification. Very few species will escape the negative effects of increasing CO2, with an expected large reduction in species diversity and abundance across the globe. One exception will be microorganisms, which are expected to increase in number and diversity.

From a total food web point of view, primary production from the smallest plankton is expected to increase in the warmer waters but this often doesn’t translate into secondary production (the zooplankton and smaller fish) which shows decreased productivity under ocean acidification.

What's the techno-optimist solution for this one?

[cantbeserious]

1. There Is None - The Earth Space Battery Is Running Low - Go Search For That Term - Things Are Grim

eom

[GliderGuider]

2. Yes, I saw that article when it was published.

Faced with this situation. we should each do whatever we think or feel is right: conserve and recycle, resist and fight back, science the shit out of it, run for office, vote for least bad candidates, take care of our loved ones, meditate, walk in the woods, turn on, tune in, drop out...

But even if we can't accept the fact, I think we also need to understand that there are some battles we can't win. Some problems we have created are not fixable. We each need to decide how we will respond to that awareness.

[cantbeserious]

3. Roger That On All Accounts And Particulars

eom

[Binkie The Clown]

4. "Let them eat cake."

Human civilization on this planet is so very screwed. There's not much left but to stockpile a truckload of popcorn and sit back to watch the show unfold.

[msongs]

5. quit eating fish. there ya go nt

[NickB79]

6. The OP's article is about acidification and warming, not overfishing

While overfishing is a MASSIVE driver of lost biodiversity, this research implies that even a complete cessation of fishing wouldn't stop the collapse we're starting to see now.

You can't leave the fish in the ocean and expect them to recover, when their habitats are wrecked beyond repair.