Oceanic food-chain undergoing dramatic changes

Increasing levels of carbon dioxide appear to be changing the biodiversity of the oceanic ecosystem, most notably the keystone bacterial organisms that form the foundation of the ocean’s food-chain. Reporting their findings in Nature Geoscience, the researchers say they are uncertain as to what the long term effects of these climate-driven selection pressures will be.

While the outcomes may be unclear, the study warns that changes to populations of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria (bacteria that obtain energy through photosynthesis, otherwise known as blue-green algae) will have implications for every living thing in the ocean.

Nitrogen-fixing is when organisms, such as cyanobacteria, convert inert nitrogen gas into a reactive form that most other creatures need to survive. Without nitrogen fixers, most life in the ocean could not survive.

Researcher David Hutchins, from the University of Southern California, explained that his team’s study focused on two major groups of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria:Trichodesmium and Crocosphaera.

Trichodesmium forms large floating colonies big enough to see with the naked eye and makes vast “blooms” in the open ocean. Crocosphaera is also very abundant but is a single-celled, microscopic organism.

Previous research showed that these two types of cyanobacteria should be some of the biggest “winners” of climate change, thriving in high CO2 levels and warmer oceans. However, those previous studies only examined one or two strains of the organisms.

Now, using a culture library of many different strains and species of the organisms, Hutchin’s team was able to show that some strains grow better at low CO2 levels not seen since the start of the Industrial Revolution, while others thrive in high CO<sub2< sub=””> conditions.

“Our findings show that CO2 has the potential to control the biodiversity of these keystone organisms in ocean biology, and our fossil fuel emissions are probably responsible for changing the types of nitrogen fixers that are growing in the ocean,” said Hutchins.

The findings may have significant ramifications for changes in ocean food-chains and productivity, potentially affecting resources we harvest from the ocean. “It’s not that climate change will wipe out all nitrogen fixers; we’ve shown that there’s redundancy in nature’s system. Rather, increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide changes specifically which nitrogen fixers are likely to thrive,” Hutchins explained. “And we’re not entirely certain how that will change the ocean of tomorrow.”

Related:
Discuss this article in our forum
Rising CO2 giving fish super-hearing
Blue-green algae affecting reproductive health
Toxin producing algae key to mass extinctions, claims new study
CO2 “inertia” makes significant climatic disruption inevitable

Source: University of Southern California

, ,

Comments are closed.

1944 Dextrose Food Energy Sugar Carbon Dioxide Measured Analyzed 2 Pg Print Ad picture

1944 Dextrose Food Energy Sugar Carbon Dioxide Measured Analyzed 2 Pg Print Ad

$22.99



Vtg C-O-Two Co. Carbon Dioxide Horn Extinguisher Class B-4 Empty C. 1940's Brass picture

Vtg C-O-Two Co. Carbon Dioxide Horn Extinguisher Class B-4 Empty C. 1940's Brass

$178.49



vintage fire extinguisher CO carbon dioxide  fire extinguisher moor fite  model picture

vintage fire extinguisher CO carbon dioxide fire extinguisher moor fite model

$350.00



Carbon Dioxide Container (empty) - Used picture

Carbon Dioxide Container (empty) - Used

$74.00



Vintage Natural Carbon Dioxide Decaffeinated Coffee Burlap Sack  picture

Vintage Natural Carbon Dioxide Decaffeinated Coffee Burlap Sack

$9.99



Vintage C-O-TWO Fire Extinguisher  Size 2 Squeeze-Grip Type Carbon Dioxide picture

Vintage C-O-TWO Fire Extinguisher Size 2 Squeeze-Grip Type Carbon Dioxide

$39.95



Antique Carbon Dioxide & Magnesia Co. Open end wrench - Rare Vtg picture

Antique Carbon Dioxide & Magnesia Co. Open end wrench - Rare Vtg

$95.00



Antique Vintage Heavy ALFITE Fire Extinguisher Carbon Dioxide Empty U.S.A. picture

Antique Vintage Heavy ALFITE Fire Extinguisher Carbon Dioxide Empty U.S.A.

$55.00



Danger Carbon Dioxide MAGNET 2

Danger Carbon Dioxide MAGNET 2"x3" Refrigerator Locker Caution

$6.45



APOLLO 13 MAKE-SHIFT CARBON DIOXIDE ADAPTER - 8X10 NASA PHOTO (DD461) picture

APOLLO 13 MAKE-SHIFT CARBON DIOXIDE ADAPTER - 8X10 NASA PHOTO (DD461)

$8.87



Powered by WordPress. Designed by WooThemes