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Dec. 7th, 2006 09:15 amWarming waters causing decrease in ocean's phytoplankton
Honestly, if you have any biology bent whatsoever, I heartily suggest you take a course in phycology (the study of algae) if your college offers it --- I find them highly interesting and they are very ecologically relevant.
For example, the algae in the gulf of mexico is estimated to absorb more CO2 than all the rainforests in South America. Increased nitrogen and carbon runoff from overfertilization of farm land as well as animal wastes (ie chicken and pig farms) disrupts the algal balance where most major rivers run into the ocean causing red tides --- which of course causes the fish during these times to be potentially harmful to humans. The neurotoxins can also negatively affect other consumers of fish like seals and birds.
The impact of warming waters on coral reef health is well documented. The implications that most other algal species are being negatively affected by warming water is also terrifying. It is possible that as artic waters warm, algae may migrate to those areas, but the larger question would be whether or not artic waters that consistently get cold water runoff from icebergs and glaciers would warm enough to harbor the large variety and amounts of algae found in the tropics. Worse, if it does happen, we would likely see worldwide disruption of natural balance within most oceanic foodchains ---- northern fish species who are not adapted to consume the phytoplankton of the tropics dying out as they compete with migration of tropic fish species -- again, I'm not convinced that temperatures would be changed enough to facilitate this. Plus, if you've ever watched the changing algae on your local pond or creek (the annual spring green sludge giving way to clearer waters), you'll know that algae are incredibly dependent on temperature due to temperatures effects on the oxygen content of water and the diffraction pattern of light traveling through water.
Okay, that's probably enough science for one day. I'm going to go stare at some pretty pictures of diatoms now.
Honestly, if you have any biology bent whatsoever, I heartily suggest you take a course in phycology (the study of algae) if your college offers it --- I find them highly interesting and they are very ecologically relevant.
For example, the algae in the gulf of mexico is estimated to absorb more CO2 than all the rainforests in South America. Increased nitrogen and carbon runoff from overfertilization of farm land as well as animal wastes (ie chicken and pig farms) disrupts the algal balance where most major rivers run into the ocean causing red tides --- which of course causes the fish during these times to be potentially harmful to humans. The neurotoxins can also negatively affect other consumers of fish like seals and birds.
The impact of warming waters on coral reef health is well documented. The implications that most other algal species are being negatively affected by warming water is also terrifying. It is possible that as artic waters warm, algae may migrate to those areas, but the larger question would be whether or not artic waters that consistently get cold water runoff from icebergs and glaciers would warm enough to harbor the large variety and amounts of algae found in the tropics. Worse, if it does happen, we would likely see worldwide disruption of natural balance within most oceanic foodchains ---- northern fish species who are not adapted to consume the phytoplankton of the tropics dying out as they compete with migration of tropic fish species -- again, I'm not convinced that temperatures would be changed enough to facilitate this. Plus, if you've ever watched the changing algae on your local pond or creek (the annual spring green sludge giving way to clearer waters), you'll know that algae are incredibly dependent on temperature due to temperatures effects on the oxygen content of water and the diffraction pattern of light traveling through water.
Okay, that's probably enough science for one day. I'm going to go stare at some pretty pictures of diatoms now.
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