How safe is the ocean waters for marine life to survive? If the ocean acts as a carbon sink and absorbs more than 25% of the world's anthropogenic emissions of carbon, how safe are these waters for life to thrive in it? A huge chunk of the carbon dioxide goes to the Southern Oceans, making them huge hotspots for Ocean Acidification (OA).
Dr. Katherina Petrou, a researcher from the University of Technology Sydney and lead author of the study that was published in Nature Climate Change, said that although the impact of the change in the ocean pH is shown in calcifying organisms in marine life, its consequences on the non-calcifying marine phytoplanktons remains to be unclear.
"Several studies have been conducted to show a range of responses on OA (in phytoplanktons) yet rarely has it been considered how the shifts in the environmental pH levels might affect silicification rates in diatoms," she said.
"Diatoms have always been considered as a unique type of phytoplankton as it needs silicic acid to produce their silica cell walls. Under a microscope, these ocean species look like tony jewelry boxes, but what is more important is the fact that its dense-like glass armour promotes sinking. This makes them an important conduit for the transport of carbon dioxide to the deep waters of the ocean where it can be stored."
Diatoms have been responsible for almost 40% of the overall productivity of the ocean. This means that it is able to play a significant role in the survival of marine food webs, providing sustenance to millions of creatures, both in water and on land. Humans, unknowingly is dependent on them too.
The research concerning the survival of the diatoms from the Australian Antarctic Base. the study was designed to look into the effects of the predicted changes in the levels of ocean acidity in the future on the community structure of the Antarctic phytoplanktons.
"Its alarming that the diatoms are greatly affected by the increase in ocean acidity, with its species likely to have diminished silica production before the turn of the century," said Dr. Petrou.
In the context of how global warming is affecting the oceans and everyone dependent on it, findings like this are important as they reveal what the future holds. The fewer diatoms absorb the CO2 means that there will be more of it present in the atmosphere.
"The only genuine way to circumvent around this outcome is to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions to limit the acidification of the world's oceans," researchers said.
