Microscopic Organisms Dying Due to Warming East Coast Waters
Warming waters are taking a severe toll on aquatic life and drastically affecting food chain dynamics along the East Coast of the United States. The growth of microscopic marine organisms, which provide the foundation for the entire ocean’s food web, are particularly vulnerable to any change in water temperatures.
The Effects of Warming Waters on Microscopic Life
The main consequence of warming waters is a decrease in the photosynthetic rate of microscopic marine organisms, mostly algae and bacteria. This has a huge impact, as they are the base food of so many other species, such as fish, mollusks and crustaceans.
The effects of global warming have become visible to us when analyzing data collected in the deep waters of the Atlantic, which have been observed to be between a full degree and 1.5 degree hotter than usual. Although this might seem like an insignificant change, it can be deadly for microorganisms and all that depend on them for food.
Long-term Consequences
The reduction of microscopic marine organisms with higher temperatures means that the creatures up the food chain will suffer due to a decrease in their primary food source. Not only that, but a decrease in their number affects the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide they can produce, thus affecting the entire marine flora and fauna.
What Can We Do?
The poor aquatic life in the East Coast needs to be protected and the warming waters need to be managed properly. We can do our part to protect them in the following ways:
- Reduce-Reuse-Recycle: By disposing of our trash properly and trying to reduce our consumption of plastics and disposable items, we can reduce the amount of pollutants that enter the ocean waters.
- Act Politically: We can support conservation programs and policies that help protect aquatic life.
- Reduce Our Carbon Footprint: We can reduce our own carbon footprint by changing our lifestyles, from carpooling and using public transport to cutting down on energy consumption.
By taking these steps, we can help protect the microscopic organisms that make up the base of the East Coast’s food chain. Let’s make sure the sea remains teeming with life! In recent months, there has been growing concern amongst environmentalists, marine biologists and oceanographers due to a decrease in the microscopic organisms that make up the base of the ocean’s food chain. Known as phytoplankton, these organisms are the primary source of energy for larger fish and marine mammals, providing about two-thirds of life underneath the sea’s surface.
Less phytoplankton means less food for the larger species, including fish, and a lower diversity of life overall in the ocean. Recent findings from a survey conducted by researchers from the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment at the University of Delaware suggests that warmer waters on the East Coast of the United States have caused a significant decrease in phytoplankton populations.
Preliminary findings suggest that warmer waters are having a devastating effect on the diversity, abundance and spatial distribution of the tiny organisms found in the Atlantic Ocean. The average water temperature along the East Coast has risen in recent years, and this increase is likely having an effect on the phytoplankton, as they are sensitive to even small changes in temperature.
The results of this survey have important implications for other marine species. Without enough phytoplankton in the ocean, there will not be enough food for fish, turtles, dolphins and other larger animals. This could potentially cause a cascade of effects up the food chain if populations become too low.
The findings of this survey are concerning and speak to the urgent need for more research into climate change and its effect on marine life. While there is still more work to be done to monitor and address the situation, immediate steps need to be taken to reverse the trend and protect the ocean’s food chain.
