http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/338581/title/Carbon_dioxide_breaking_down_marine_ecosystems
Picture
This graphic shows carbon dioxide bubbling up from the sea floor.
Summary
A growing problem in marine ecosystems today is an increasing amount of carbon dioxide and low pH (phenyl) levels. Marine life diversity is declining and many animals are dying because of this increased level of carbon dioxide. Scientists have been collecting data from marine sites off Italy, Baja California and Papua New Guinea, where there are traces of high concentrations of carbon dioxide. Also, the pH levels in these areas are declining to at least 7.8, which is very irregular compared to normal levels of 8.1. Coral, some algae, and sea urchins are gone and many fish won’t eat or lay their eggs in these waters. Also, more sea creatures were killed when waters temperatures and CO2 levels increased in the late summer. If these levels keep fluctuating, more and more marine wildlife will die off, causing harm to food webs, and killing more and more ecosystems.
Opinion
It is alarming to me that such little things that we don’t even think about can cause such huge effects. We as consumers excessively burn fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide into the air. The carbon cycle cannot process all of the extra CO2, causing unnatural changes in CO2 levels. If we cut back on burning fossil fuels, we can help various marine ecosystems.
Questions
Why is excess carbon dioxide killing sea creatures?What are pH levels?
This is very interesting to me. It got me wondering why this is happening. Is it just natural, or is it something us humans are doing?
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ReplyDeleteThis is surely a tricky situation for the nations of the world. I wonder if there is even a way to prevent this problem. I am a little confused on how this is happening though. Is it because of humans or is it a natural and inevitable stage of life? Whichever one it is, i doubt OUR country is doing much to prevent this.... Anyway, very interesting and thought intriguing.
ReplyDeleteAnswer to Jaynie's third question: pH levels refer to how acidic the water content is. The pH lever of pure water is about 7.0, and any water with a level lower than that is considered to be more acidic. Those higher are considered basic.
DeleteAlso, here is an article that specifically shows the harmful affects of carbon dioxide to the fish's brain and nervous system.
http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-01-carbon-dioxide-affecting-fish-brains.html
1. the excess carbon dioxide is killing them because they take in small amounts of exygen and if theres to much carbon then...
ReplyDeleteBut this really suprised me I never would have thought such a thing was occuring, why is this happening?
I think its terrible that we are losing so many animals and ecosystems like that. I was just wondering if it is possible to prevent this problem. Are there people who are trying to see if it is?
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