Global warming is harming marine parasites and the ocean ecosystem

As we know, thanks to science and measurements carried out periodically by scientists, the climate change Is at the origin of ocean warming, and it has a huge impact on the tiny creatures that live in the sea.

A recent study found that ocean warming is destroy marine parasites and this could have serious consequences for the whole ocean ecosystem. The study, led by researchers at the University of Washington, looked at the effects of warming oceans on two types of marine parasites: copepods and dinoflagellates. These tiny creatures are essential to the ocean’s food web, being the primary food source for many fish and other marine animals.

Researchers have found that as the oceans warm, the parasites cannot survive. Warmer waters cause parasites to lose their ability to reproduce and their populations to decline. This is a major concern, as parasites play a vital role in the ocean food web. Without them, the whole ecosystem could lose its balance.

Specifically, the research reveals a decline in fish parasites from 1880 to 2019, a period during which their habitat, His Puget (the second largest estuary in the continental United States), has experienced significant warming. The study recently published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciencesachieved the world’s largest and longest record of the number of parasites in wildlife, and after this study, it is evident that parasites can be very sensitive to climate change.

The study revealed that the ocean warming negatively affects parasite predators, such as fish and other marine animals. Without the parasites, these creatures struggle to find food, and their populations are also in decline. This could have a ripple effect on the entire ocean ecosystem, as the loss of these creatures could lead to the decline of other marine animals, such as birds and marine mammals.

“People generally think that climate change will make parasites thrive, that we will see an increase in parasite epidemics as the world warms. For some parasite species this may be true, but parasites are host-dependent, making them particularly vulnerable in an evolving world where the fate of hosts is being reshuffled,” said lead author Chelsea Wood, Professor graduate of science. UW Aquatic and Fisheries.

While some parasites have a single host species, many parasites move between host species. The eggs are transported to one host species, the larvae emerge and infect another host, and the adult may mature on a third host before laying eggs. “Our results show that parasites with one or two host species remained fairly stable, but parasites with three or more hosts crashed,” Wood said. “The degree of decline was severe. It would trigger conservation action if it happened in the kinds of species people care about, like mammals or birds.

It’s not just marine life that’s affected; Warming oceans also contribute to global warming, which directly impacts human livelihoods. The ocean absorbs more than 90% of the excess heat generated by human activities, leading to sea level rise, extreme weather events and altered ocean chemistry. These changes are already having a huge impact on coastal communities and will continue to do so in the future.

This is a clear signal that the world must take immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow ocean warming. This can be achieved by increasing the use of renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, and reducing plastic waste in the ocean.

The good news is that as individuals we can have a positive impact on the health of the ocean and its inhabitants. We can reduce our carbon footprint by eating plant-based, using public transport, cycling or walking. We can also reduce our plastic consumption by using reusable containers, bags and straws. Every little step we take will add up to make a big difference.

“Parasite ecology is really in its infancy, but what we do know is that these complex life cycle parasites likely play an important role in conducting energy through food webs and supporting top predators,” said Wood, an author of the report who is one of the first to use a new method to resuscitate information about past parasite populations.

Mammals and birds are preserved by taxidermy, which retains parasites only on skin, feathers or fur. But specimens of fish, reptiles, and amphibians are preserved in liquid, which also preserves the parasites that were living inside the animal when it died.

In conclusion, a recent study has shown that the warming of the oceans destroys marine parasites and that this could have serious consequences for the entire ocean ecosystem. The loss of these creatures could lead to the decline of other marine animals and have a ripple effect on the entire ocean ecosystem.

The study highlights the need for immediate action to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We can all do our part to slow ocean warming by reducing our carbon footprint and reducing plastic waste. Every small step we take will help make a big difference in the health of the ocean and its inhabitants.

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