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Big Blue: The Importance of Our Oceans
SPACER We all understand that our oceans are vital; taking up most of our entire Earth and containing so many unique marine species, the oceans provide an incredibly diverse and important ecosystem that in the long term will affect everyone. We all understand that pollution is an issue that is increasing every day, and every hour, and know that climate change is damaging our planet near-irreversibly. But why does it matter so much? SPACER 1. 70% of our entire Earth is made up of the ocean. Most of our Earth is made up of the ocean, which means that our oceans also produce about 50% of the oxygen in the atmosphere,…
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Chemical Pollution and the Deep Blue: Unraveling its Impact on Marine Life.
Plunge into the depths of our oceans to uncover the hidden dangers of chemical pollution. From pesticides to heavy metals, we’ll explore how these pollutants threaten both wildlife and human health. Discover the urgent need for environmental action. Chemical pollution is the contamination of an environment, including air, water, and soil, by harmful synthetic substances. These substances can include pesticides, heavy metals, industrial chemicals, and other toxic compounds that adversely affect human health, wildlife, and ecosystems. As stated in the image above, these chemicals build up in the bodies of marine life, such as in their fatty tissues. The emergence of diseases in marine plants and mammals has increased. “Marine…
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Effects on Pacific Salmon
The effects of climate change on salmon populations, specifically juvenile Chinook and Steelhead in the Columbia River Basin (CRB), are significant and complex. Looking ahead to future climate scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) in the 2040s and 2080s, we expect big changes in the temperatures of streams that are crucial for salmon habitat. In the Lower Columbia River, where juvenile Chinook migrate from May 20 to June 30, historical temperatures have been just right for them. But by the 2080s, due to climate warming, these temperatures are likely to become too warm, causing stress for Chinook. On the other hand, juvenile Steelhead, migrating slightly earlier from April 17 to May 28,…
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Climate Change Effects on Fish
Fish populations are influenced by climate change through various mechanisms operating across different life-history stages and ecological processes within ecosystems. For example, factors like temperature, oxygen levels, salinity, and ocean pH affect successive life stages of fish (eggs, larvae, juveniles, adults) uniquely. The responses of fish to these changes play a critical role in shaping population dynamics and ecosystem-level processes. Species-specific responses to temperature changes are revealed by eco-physiological data, impacting habitat suitability and interactions among species. For instance, temperature changes can disrupt trophic relationships, causing shifts in predation patterns and species interactions. Different species and species-groups exhibit varying degrees of sensitivity to temperature shifts, which can alter community dynamics…
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Diving Deep: Plastic Pollution and its Effects
Embark on a voyage of discovery as we uncover the intricate dynamics between plastic pollution and climate change in our precious marine ecosystems. Throughout this blog post, we delve into the depths of these interconnected challenges, shedding light on their consequences and rallying for urgent solutions. Join us as we navigate the currents of environmental awareness and advocacy. What is Plastic pollution? Plastic pollution can be considered marine debris. Marine debris refers to any solid, manufactured, or processed material that enters the marine environment. Some examples of marine debris can include plastic bottles, bags, fishing gear, cigarette butts, and even larger items like abandoned ships or fishing gear. These materials…
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Chemical/oil/noise [Kat] test
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Plastics [Kat] test
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Coral Reefs: Decaying Rainforests of the Sea
Coral reefs, referred to as the “rainforests of the sea”, are incredibly diverse and important structures for marine life. Providing food, safety and shelter for nearly 4,000 species of fish and 800 species of hard corals (among hundreds of other species), these coral reefs house millions of organisms and boast an incredibly diverse repertoire. In fact, 25% of marine life rely on reefs for their survival, as fish tend to use these natural formations to raise their young (NOAA Website). A majority of new cancer drug research focuses on marine organisms that are found on these coral reefs; these organisms produce chemicals that have been used prior in treatments for…
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The Ocean: Acid Seawater and CO2
SPACER Parts of the ocean is naturally acidic- our ocean has been absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere (carbon dioxide), and using it to feed algae and cyanobacteria which are responsible for providing oxygen. This is a common, natural process that has existed for years, and is Earth’s way of regulating it’s atmosphere. This would be a nonissue, if not for the fact that there is too much carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere now, and while the ocean is still absorbing the CO2, there’s too much for it to handle. What’s supposed to be used to feed algae is now killing them faster than they’re able to produce oxygen. SPACER…
