[/caption]Editor - Ocean creatures are facing a crisis as temperatures rise and man continues activities that cause greenhouse emissions and pollute the waters, creating acidic conditions in the water that are killing fish.
What is happening is there are now lower oxygen and higher carbon dioxide levels in coastal water bodies.
These increased levels of carbon dioxide causes the waters to be more
acidic. This in turn impacts the creatures that live in these waters.
Scientists say that if steps are not taken to reduce greenhouse emissions and minimize run-off from
factories, oil drilling and human waste, things will get worse.
The
ocean is filled with a soup of bacteria and viruses. The animals living
in these environments are constantly being bombarded by pathogens.
They can become infected and die.
ocean is filled with a soup of bacteria and viruses. The animals living
in these environments are constantly being bombarded by pathogens.
They can become infected and die.
Louis
Burnett, professor of biology and director of the Grice Marine
Laboratory of the College of Charleston, and Karen Burnett, research
associate professor at Grice Marine Laboratory of the College of
Charleston, have been studying the rise in ocean acidity and have found
organisms in these conditions can't fight off infections as well as
animals living in oxygen rich, low carbon dixodie environments.
Burnett, professor of biology and director of the Grice Marine
Laboratory of the College of Charleston, and Karen Burnett, research
associate professor at Grice Marine Laboratory of the College of
Charleston, have been studying the rise in ocean acidity and have found
organisms in these conditions can't fight off infections as well as
animals living in oxygen rich, low carbon dixodie environments.
This study is one of a number that was scheduled at the Global Change and Global Science: Comparative Physiology in a Changing World
conference from August 4-7, 2010 in Westminster, Colorado. This
conference was in part sponsored by the
conference from August 4-7, 2010 in Westminster, Colorado. This
conference was in part sponsored by the
The researchers looked specifically at fish, oysters, crabs and shrimp,
finding these animals have a decreased ability to fight off infection.
They have found it only takes about half as much bacteria to administer a
lethal dose to a creature in a low oxygen, high carbon dioxide
environmen
finding these animals have a decreased ability to fight off infection.
They have found it only takes about half as much bacteria to administer a
lethal dose to a creature in a low oxygen, high carbon dioxide
environmen
"Our approach is exciting because traditionally physiologists haven't
considered bacteria or disease as a natural environmental barrier, so
it's a pretty open field," says Louis Burnett.
considered bacteria or disease as a natural environmental barrier, so
it's a pretty open field," says Louis Burnett.
Marine
animals have been found in research to lose blood cells within minutes
when invaded by a pathogen. The scientists see evidence that sea animals
fighting off infection lower their metabolism, which slows down other
important processes like making new proteins.
animals have been found in research to lose blood cells within minutes
when invaded by a pathogen. The scientists see evidence that sea animals
fighting off infection lower their metabolism, which slows down other
important processes like making new proteins.
In acidic conditions it takes less time for these animals to get sick.
Burnett says, " It's alarming that
deep-water animals may be much more affected by ocean acidification,
since they are not used to the ebb and flow of oxygen and carbon dioxide
levels."
"Some
of the models for how the coastal organisms adapt may help researchers
predict how deep water organisms are going to be affected by overall
climate change too," says Louis Burnett.
of the models for how the coastal organisms adapt may help researchers
predict how deep water organisms are going to be affected by overall
climate change too," says Louis Burnett.
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