Biodiversity

[|Click on the link to see a fish talking about Ocean Acidification]  __Impacts__ Significant loss of biodiversity is predicted in terrestrial and aquatic sensitive areas. Including the invasion of exotic species.   __Background Information__ //Terrestrial habitats// In the southern hemispheres there could be shifts in the distribution of vegetation, with flora and faunal species expanding into favorable regions. Life cycles and food webs could be altered by climate change. Increases in temperature may affect flowering time and timing of pollination by insects have all been altered. //Marine Habitats - Ocean Acidification// Carbon dioxide dissolves into oceans causing ocean acidification, lowering pH and making oceans acidic (like lemons). Acidifying and warming oceans are expected to be detrimental to marine organisms which have calcium carbonate shells because their shells begin to dissolve. Some prominent calcifying marine organisms such as plankton, sea urchins, oysters in temperate waters and pteropods in the Antartica may experience their shells dissolving which will lead to negative flow-on impacts for the wider Southern Ocean marine ecosystem. Recently, i n experiments done by scientists, fertilisation and embryonic development of the larvae of Sydney Rock and Pacific oysters were found to decrease. The oysters failed the acid test. Ocean acidification and temperature is also expected to affect the Great Barrier Reef. In 1998, 2002 and 2006, mass bleaching events of corals occurred as sea surface temperatures in the Great Barrier Reef reached levels that were the highest ever recorded. Aerial surveys showed that, on average, about 50 per cent of reefs suffered bleaching; 87 per cent of inshore reefs and 28 per cent of mid-shelf and offshore reefs. Current model predictions are for rises in average water temperature in the Great Barrier Reef of between 1 and 3°C over the course of the century.  __Solutions__

There are limited ways to stop ocean acidification. They include genetically modifying animals and coral so they can withstand high CO2, or limit CO2 emissions by finding alternative energy sources which will help to reduce carbon emissions. The Monaco Protocol released by scientists in February this year stated that one major solution that may "climate proof" marine habitats could be selective, genetic breeding of oysters and other marine organisms against climate change. There is still lots of research to be done on the effect of ocean acidification on marine organisms and habitats. We need more funding for these types of investigations.