This is the main conclusion of a study conducted by the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB) in collaboration with the Roscoff Marine Station (France) that analyses the increase in temperature and ocean acidification on the nutritional content of coccolithophores, a unique and abundant type of phytoplankton able to calcify and cover the cell with elaborate calcite elements.
Ocean warming and acidification are the result of the rapid accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. While ocean warming is predicted to cause changes in the distribution of species, which will have impacts on marine ecosystems, calcifying marine organisms are predicted to respond negatively to ocean acidification as it makes it more difficult for them to build their skeleton or shells. Although these impacts are expected to affect the marine food web, there is a lack of knowledge as to what these specific effects will be.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) addressed in this article:
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 14: Life Below Water
The Study’s Experiment and Findings
The study’s experiment used simulated future climate conditions. Results showed an increase in the availability of lipids under ocean warming; however, this increase was reduced by ocean acidification. The coccolithophores also showed reduced nutritional content, indicating they will provide a lower quality food source for their consumers. Additionally, the shell of the coccolithophore was weakened, which will likely be beneficial for their consumers as they will be easier to digest.
Key Findings:
- Increased availability of lipids under ocean warming
- Reduction in nutritional content of coccolithophores due to ocean acidification
- Weakened shell of coccolithophores, making them easier to digest for consumers
“Coccolithophores are a very important marine organism. Although they are microscopic, they play a large role in the carbon cycle, and they’re an important food source in the ocean,” says Roberta Johnson, ICTA-UAB researcher and lead author of the study. “We can see that these organisms are negatively impacted by climate change conditions, with reductions in energy and nutrients and this will have varied impacts on the marine food web,” she adds.
Patrizia Ziveri, Professor at ICTA-UAB and co-author of the study states that “this abundant group of unicellular organisms are particularly key in open ocean and conditions where nutrients are scarce. Our findings show that climate change might have a domino effect on the food web.” It is important to note that the fact that nutritional quality of coccolithophores for consumers might decline under climate change has wide implications for the food web dynamics of our rapidly changing ocean.
Implications and Future Research
The study concludes that coccolithophores may also shift to other regions with more favorable conditions, further affecting marine organisms that rely on them as a food source. This short-term experiment provides a small taste of the nutritional response of coccolithophores to climate change stressors, however further work investigating the long-term impact of ocean warming and acidification as well as species and community interaction will be a key part of understanding the impacts of climate change on marine food web dynamics.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 14: Life Below Water | Target 14.3: Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification | Indicator 14.3.1: Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations |
| SDG 14: Life Below Water | Target 14.4: By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics | Indicator 14.4.1: Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species | Indicator 15.5.1: Red List Index |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
SDG 14: Life Below Water
The article discusses the impacts of ocean acidification on coccolithophores, which are an important part of the marine food web. This aligns with SDG 14, which aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources.
SDG 15: Life on Land
The article mentions that coccolithophores may shift to other regions with more favorable conditions, potentially affecting marine organisms that rely on them as a food source. This relates to SDG 15, which focuses on protecting and restoring terrestrial ecosystems and promoting sustainable use of land resources.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Target 14.3: Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification
The article highlights the negative impacts of ocean acidification on coccolithophores, including weakened shells and reduced nutritional content. This aligns with Target 14.3, which aims to mitigate the effects of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems.
Target 14.4: By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
Although not directly mentioned in the article, the decline in the nutritional quality of coccolithophores due to climate change could have implications for the marine food web and the sustainability of fish stocks. This relates to Target 14.4, which focuses on restoring fish stocks to sustainable levels.
Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species
The potential shift of coccolithophores to other regions due to climate change could impact the biodiversity and natural habitats of marine ecosystems. This aligns with Target 15.5, which aims to protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species and reduce habitat degradation.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Indicator 14.3.1: Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations
The article discusses the impact of ocean acidification on coccolithophores, which can be measured by monitoring the average marine acidity (pH) at representative sampling stations. This indicator can be used to assess progress towards Target 14.3.
Indicator 14.4.1: Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels
Although not directly mentioned in the article, the decline in the nutritional quality of coccolithophores could have implications for fish stocks. Monitoring the proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels can help measure progress towards Target 14.4.
Indicator 15.5.1: Red List Index
The potential shift of coccolithophores to other regions could impact the biodiversity and threaten species. The Red List Index, which measures changes in the extinction risk of species over time, can be used to assess progress towards Target 15.5.
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 14: Life Below Water | Target 14.3: Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification | Indicator 14.3.1: Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations |
| SDG 14: Life Below Water | Target 14.4: By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics | Indicator 14.4.1: Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species | Indicator 15.5.1: Red List Index |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: thefishsite.com
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