Climate change has brought about many unexpected consequences, but here’s one that might surprise you: Sharks could get angrier! As strange as it sounds, scientists are warning that the world’s oceans hitting the hottest temperature ever recorded at 20.96°C could have far-reaching impacts on sea life, including the behavior of these apex predators.
The EU’s weather service, Copernicus, announced the record-breaking sea surface temperature, surpassing the previous high logged in 2016. This temperature rise not only affects fish and coral but could also lead to a rise in sea levels.
Fish like cod, essential in many food chains, may have to migrate further north to cooler waters, disrupting existing ecosystems. But perhaps most intriguingly, predators such as sharks could become more aggressive as they become disoriented in hotter conditions. Dr. Simon Boxall from the University of Southampton explained that sharks getting grumpy about temperature changes wouldn’t be surprising.
These alarming trends are not isolated events but part of a pattern. Average sea temperatures have been steadily climbing since the late 1970s, influenced by phenomena like El Nino and exacerbated by global warming. The continuous burning of fossil fuels adds to the excess heat absorbed by the oceans, delaying their stabilization.
The effects of warmer seas can be seen in the numbers and behavior of marine species. Dr. Katie Longo pointed out that cod could drop in numbers due to shifts in the breeding time of their prey, tiny shrimp-like creatures called copepods. There’s also been widespread coral bleaching, with many corals dying, turning tropical paradises into underwater wastelands.
Scientists around the world are investigating why the oceans are heating up so rapidly, with climate change being the primary culprit. A series of marine heatwaves this year in various parts of the world underlines the global nature of the problem.
Ocean warming is not just a concern but a loud alarm bell, according to Professor Rowan Sutton. The accumulation of greenhouse gases from human activities, mainly burning fossil fuels, has set off this global trend, urging immediate actions to limit future warming.
In a world grappling with climate change, these unexpected consequences in our oceans offer yet another stark reminder of the interconnectedness of our planet’s ecosystems. From angrier sharks to dying corals, the ripple effects of rising sea temperatures touch us all. It’s a call to protect and preserve our oceans as they weather the storm of Global warming. The future of our marine life, including our shark friends, may depend on it!
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This article by Nicholas Vincent was first published by OneGreenPlanet on 14 August 2023.
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