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Food Web Dynamics
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Climate Changes has shifted food webs across the globe drastically and has been continuing to do so. The different effects of climate change including sea level rise, glacial melting, rising temperatures and many more are causing some species populations to decline and even collapse which is having extreme consequences for other species in these food webs. The marine ecosystem is especially in danger as many of the climate change effects are transforming their entire ecosystem with some of the habitats being especially fragile. As these habitats continue to change the food webs and trophic cascades that connect the species within them will suffer.
One of the most directly affected landscapes by climate change is Antarctica and the surrounding marine ecosystem. One unique aspect of this environment is most of the land-dwelling species play an important role in the nearby marine ecosystems. As temperatures rise, glaciers are melting, and rising temperatures of water are melting sea ice. Sea ice may seem like a lifeless chunk of frozen water, but in reality, holds the growing elements for crucial producers, bacteria. As sea ice melts in spring light begins to shine through and bacteria begins to grow with Antarctic Krill depend on for food. The food web expands to include consumers such as penguins and humpback whales that feast on the krill (Eronen-Rasimus, 2014). Climate change is having drastic effects on th is food web. As ocean temperatures rise, sea ice is melting and reducing the habitat for vital bacteria to grow. As a result, krill populations in the southern hemisphere regions have more than halved in the last 50 years. The producers in this food web play a vital role in the stabilization of the populations of all the species in this region and it is crucial that the effects of climate change are reduced to protect biodiversity in this region (Fuentes, 2016).
The effects of climate change on marine species are often very complicated and you need to look at one species and how it is being affected in order to assess the impacts on another species. For example, there are many aquatic species that need cooler waters in order to survive and are being pushed to migrate as waters warm up. This theory goes on to affect more temperature resilient species if their prey needs to migrate in order to survive. Zooplankton for example are being forced to shift their populations to warmer regions and as a result basking sharks and other filter-feeders must leave their usual territories and follow the zooplankton. Another example of this is the thresher shark which is generally natural near southern California but is more recently found near the Alaskan Pacific coast (Fisheries, 2021).
The effects of climate change on marine species are often very complicated and you need to look at one species and how it is being affected in order to assess the impacts on another species. For example, there are many aquatic species that need cooler waters in order to survive and are being pushed to migrate as waters warm up. This theory goes on to affect more temperature resilient species if their prey needs to migrate in order to survive. Zooplankton for example are being forced to shift their populations to warmer regions and as a result basking sharks and other filter-feeders must leave their usual territories and follow the zooplankton. Another example of this is the thresher shark which is generally natural near southern California but is more recently found near the Alaskan Pacific coast (Fisheries, 2021).
Connections within food webs are very diverse and complex on land and sea. Marine ecosystems have been observed to be more fragile in respect to climate change effects. The vast effects that climate change has on marine ecosystems directly correlate with food web disruptions. In many cases the consequences begin at the bottom of the food chain and multiply to create indirect effects as they travel upwards. Although many disruptions begin at the bottom of the food chain, they can originate with any species that is not particularly resilient to temperature change, severe storms, or any of the other effects. All the food chain dynamics that have been discussed are excellent examples of how the consequences of climate change are deep and multiplying. The effects mentioned are only a sliver the greater wound that human ignorance has created.
Works Cited
Climate change is destabilizing marine food webs. (2020, August 17). ZME Science. https://www.zmescience.com/science/ocean-ecosystem-risk-collapse-98225423/
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Eronen-Rasimus, E., Lyra, C., Rintala, J.-M., Jürgens, K., Ikonen, V., & Kaartokallio, H. (2014). Ice formation and growth shape bacterial community structure in Baltic Sea drift ice. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 91(2), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiu022
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Fisheries, N. (2021, July 28). The Effects of Climate Change on Sharks | NOAA Fisheries. NOAA. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/effects-climate-change-sharks
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Fuentes, V., Alurralde, G., Meyer, B., Aguirre, G. E., Canepa, A., Wölfl, A.-C., Hass, H. C., Williams, G. N., & Schloss, I. R. (2016). Glacial melting: an overlooked threat to Antarctic krill. Scientific Reports, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep27234
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Hancock, L. (2014). Everything You Need to Know about Coral Bleaching—and How We Can Stop It. World Wildlife Fund. https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/everything-you-need-to-know-about-coral-bleaching-and-how-we-can-stop-it
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NOAA. (2019, November 13). How Does Climate Change Affect Coral reefs? Noaa.gov; National Ocean Service. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coralreef-climate.html