Impact of Rising Temperatures on Aquatic Environments

#8

An increase in the average global temperature causes global warming. Human activities and some natural events like volcano eruptions are the main causes of rise in temperature. It has a great impact on the habitat of all species. But perhaps the most affected are the aquatic environments. An increase in water temperature can result in the death of many aquatic organisms and cause sea levels to rise; which ruin aquatic habitats. Also rising temperatures are causing more intense hurricanes to occur more frequently. This not only affects aquatic organisms, but also the organisms on land, including us.
The increase of water temperature can result in the death of many aquatic organisms and destroy aquatic environments. Fish such as salmon and trout require cold water to survive and to reproduce. But if the temperatures increased these fish would not be able to reproduce and would eventually become extinct. More than 20% of the world’s fresh water fish have already become extinct, are endangered or threatened. Plants such as algae are the basis of many food chains and have very little ability to adapt to the sudden increase of temperature rise. So if these plants were to go extinct, many other species will soon follow which rely on these plants. Aquatic organisms are very sensitive to temperature rise. Even the largest mammals of the world, whales are now also starting to decrease in numbers because of temperature rise. We cannot continue to keep taking these organisms for granted anymore. Fish like salmon and trout provide countless people with food, plants like algae help to clean our water systems and are the basis of many food chains. Now imagine if all of these species went extinct. There would be very little life left on Earth. Humans and animals who depend on seafood will starve, and many aquatic organisms will become extinct.
Rising temperatures are causing more intense weather patterns to occur more frequently. The hurricanes have destroyed many of the breeding grounds for marine mammals, brown pelicans, turtles and fish, as well as migratory species such as redhead ducks. Now these animals will have to search for alternate breeding grounds, or they will not be able to reproduce. Coral reefs are now also threatened by hurricanes. Before Coral reefs and other animals could easily bounce back and regenerate from a hurricane, but since more intense hurricanes are occurring more often, coral reefs are unable to keep on regenerating. Remember hurricane Katrina which occurred in 2005? It caused a lot of destruction and chaos to us humans; but what about the animals that also suffered. “Overall, about 20% of the local marshes were permanently overrun by water as a result of the storm” (Meriliannews.com). Scientists believe temperature rise caused hurricane Katrina’s intensity to increase. Perhaps if global warming was not occurring, hurricane Katrina’s intensity would’ve been a lot lower and may not have caused as much damage.
In conclusion humans are mostly to blame for the extinction and endangerment of the aquatic organisms. These organisms are not susceptible to rapid temperature rise and will become extinct. We caused the temperature to rise and now other species are paying for it with their lives. But we are the only species that can actually change this outcome. Some ways that you can help reduce global warming and save the aquatic plants and animals are to reduce green house emitted gasses by driving a fuel efficient car, shutting off appliances not being used and by telling others about the information which I have presented to you. Maybe if people become aware of the damage they are causing they may change their habits. In the end it’s going to be us who suffer if we let these organisms become extinct.

References
Merilian news. (2005). Information about hurricane Katrina. Effects of hurricanes on animals. http://www.merliannews.com/artman/publish/article_985.shtml
Deanna Coon. (2009). The Effects of Global Warming on the Ecosystems. Effects of Global warming on Aquatic organisms. http://plaza.ufl.edu/dede9/dedewebpage.html