Study of arMine Life

Recently I’ve started reading about ocean acidification in southern Florida’s coral reefs. Because I grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida this topic is interesting to me. I remember as a child of hearing of this issue occurring in the coral reefs but honestly didn’t know the long-lasting effects. During my research, it has surprised me that there are some people out there who believe this effect is a hoax. Even with the scientific evidence they still refuse to accept the finding as true.

The best way to start determining the truth of the issue is to define what exactly Acidification is. This is when CO2 is absorbed by seawater, and chemical reactions occur that reduce the seawater pH which increases the ocean acidity. (PANEL) This causes a lot of breaks down and calcifying of the coral life and shellfish. Natural Co2 is expelled through normal means that the acceptable levels of Co2 into the atmosphere.

In the Florida Keys, this dissolving though it is not new is being increased at a much faster rate than expected.

Back in 2009-2010, they found that the limestone that forms the foundations of the coral reef’s tract, which mind you is the second largest in the world is dissolving during the fall and winter months. The limestone builds a calcification on the coral reef and starts to deteriorate the size and mass of the marine foundation. This causes great concern because the introduction of these CO2 levels is purely man-made and had been since the industrial revolution.

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studies have been implemented for the observation of the effects of the calcification of the increased levels of limestone deposit and Co2. In a report titled Effects of Ocean Acidification on learning in Coral Reef Fishes published in 2012, it was found that the effects of calcification and acidification not only affect the reefs but also affect the fish life located in and near the coral reefs. The environmental study was brought to the point of showing that the marine life of fish had a mental knowledge of the predator-prey theory. The article, explains that at levels nearing 700 µatm, some marine species consistently display an appropriate response while others consistently show maladaptive responses to predators. (Ferrari, Maud C. O., al et.)

In the study, the tests conducted on the higher levels of the Co2 building have caused a lessening of the response to the predator attack and the prey response. They addressed the mentality that is commonly referred to as the fight or flight response. If the effects of fish are being affected by acidification as well that means the issue is a worldwide problem and not just a coral reef or shore issue This way of thinking is perpetuated in one study conducted that speaks of the Natural Co2, alkalinity, and salinity gradients can significantly alter local carbonate chemistry, and thereby create a range of susceptibility for different ecosystems to ocean acidification. (Manzello, D. al. et. Vol 7 2012) The study showed further the increased levels of carbonate in the water onshore and inshore of the southern Florida coast. The report shows the increase in both summer and spring, but the largest increase was in autumn. They say the reef areas with the high macroalgal cover may also exhibit net Co2 uptake. ((Manzello, D. al. et. Vol 7 2012)) The business practices that have been occurring are the primary reason for the increase in the Co2 level. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have indicated that by the end of this century the surface waters of the ocean could have acidity levels nearly 150 percent higher, resulting in a pH that the oceans haven’t experienced for more than 20 million years. (NOAA) This affects all levels of life in the area if the coral reef tract dies so does the entire fish population which causes carbonates that keep the foundation limestone of the Keys alive. The issue arises from the introduction of our unnatural bicarbonates that destroy the shelf life of the existing reef.

The curiosity is how this can be ever seen as a hoax in any way. According to the author James Delingpole, the effects of acidification should be seen as just another way of scaremongering. In his article Ocean Acidification: yet another wobbly pillar of climate alarmism He states that ocean acidification the evidence increasingly is a trivial, misleadingly named, and not a remotely worrying phenomenon that has been hyped up beyond all measure. (Delingpole) Even with the ever-growing evidence from the deteriorating natural reefs around the world, they can’t see the pattern. This is clearly, a continuous and repeatable pattern that is testable by the scientific method The Florida Keys is moving in the right direction to make changes in the regulations of emission output in excess. It is understood that the natural levels aren’t able to fluctuate, however, the unnecessary increase of the manmade levels can be controlled. This area of the Florida Keys’ primary industry is seen as tourism. With this industry at risk of removing the coral reef completely and the possibility of the breaking of the foundation of the entire Keys, it is important to combat the effects of this obvious threat to the coral reef and the indigenous marine life. Currently, The Florida Keys are at the forefront of green energy utilizing 60% of the energy they use is green energy, which produces less carbonate into the environment. The main output of the Co2 levels is from the burning of fossil fuels from automobiles.

Cars produce at least up to more than 30% of all the output worldwide. The city council of the Florida Keys is discussing the elimination of all vehicles in the region and only allowing public transportation. The public transportation already runs off of eco-clean fuel, and if they were to eliminate all other automobiles on the islands that would greatly reduce the level of Co2 produced into the atmosphere, which in turn would lessen the acidification of the oceans. In Conclusion, the Florida Keys have been affecting the region for decades and must be addressed. The studies conducted show the expanding effects on the rest of the marine life. Knowing the dramatically increasing levels of the Co2 from the manmade causes must be addressed. Even though there are individuals out there who would wish to lessen the importance or even ignore the severity of Ocean acidification, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s real. If something isn’t done soon then The Florida Keys and a lot of other coral reefs will be only read about in the history books. The texts could read this solvable problem that was ignored.