Cynthia Cano

"Review of The Impact of Climate Change on the World's Marine Ecosystems"

“The Impact of Climate Change on the World's Marine Ecosystems” addresses the transformation that all marine ecosystems are undergoing as a result of anthropogenic climate change. The paper starts by discussing how the rates of change in ocean temperature, wind, and ocean current intensity, and pH have been influenced by human caused climate change. The writers assert that ocean temperature has risen since 1975 (resulting in more intense storm systems), and that ocean acidity has increased as a result of CO2   pollution. They stress that these factors have disastrous effects on marine ecosystems, including rising ocean levels, destruction of ocean habitats, disruption of food webs, biodiversity reduction, and species extinction.

 Because aquatic species are acclimated to living in a specific type of environment, climate change threatens their existence by changing the environment these species had grown accustomed to. This threat is felt most among primary producers, whose life history and productivity is strongly influenced by the rise in ocean temperature. This causes a domino effect through the rest of the food web, because all other species depend on primary producers for food. Eventually, an ecosystem will suffer too many changes and will no longer be able to house the species that would help restore it. This is known as the tipping point: an ecosystem has changed and cannot go back to its original state.

The paper covers a variety of effects that anthropogenic climate change has on ocean systems, but the message is always clear. Climate change has caused a negative shift in ocean conditions, and will only continue to do so until we start taking steps to mitigate its effects.