Salinity changes threatening marine ecosystems

Date:
July 12, 2023
Source:
University of North Florida
Summary:
A groundbreaking study reveals the critical yet severely
understudied factor of salinity changes in ocean and coastlines
caused by climate change.


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FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A groundbreaking study published today reveals the critical yet severely understudied factor of salinity changes in ocean and coastlines caused
by climate change. The study was co-authored by an international team
of researchers, including Dr. Cliff Ross, University of North Florida
biology chair/professor, and Dr. Stacey Trevathan-Tackett, UNF biology
graduate program alum and research faculty member at Deakin University
in Australia.

Changes in salinity, or salt content, due to climate change and land
use can have potentially devastating impacts on vital coastal and
estuarine ecosystems, yet this has rarely been studied until now. This
new research provides valuable insights into the threats posed by
anthropogenic salinity changes to marine and coastal ecosystems and
outlines consequences for the health and economy of local communities
in oftentimes densely populated regions.

The research team looked at how climate change-related variations in
rainfall as well as local human-made impacts can lead to extreme flood
and drought events, affecting freshwater availability and impacting
salinity in sensitive ecosystems. As sea-levels rise, saltwater inflows
in coastal and low-lying areas can also cause devastating impacts. Certain groups such as microorganisms, plankton, coral, mangroves, tidal marshes, macroalgae and seagrass are most at risk and can quickly face ecosystem collapse.

The researchers warn that salinity changes are predicted to intensify
alongside ocean warming, and they stress the urgency of immediately
addressing these salinity challenges to safeguard marine and coastal
ecosystems and biodiversity.

* RELATED_TOPICS
o Plants_&_Animals
# Ecology_Research # Nature # Marine_Biology # Fish
o Earth_&_Climate
# Ecology # Ecosystems # Oceanography #
Environmental_Awareness
* RELATED_TERMS
o Global_climate_model o Global_warming_controversy o
Climate o Ocean_current o Climate_engineering o Sea_water o
IPCC_Report_on_Climate_Change_-_2007 o Kyoto_Protocol

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Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_North_Florida. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Till Ro"thig, Stacey M. Trevathan‐Tackett, Christian
R. Voolstra,
Cliff Ross, Samuel Chaffron, Paul J. Durack, Laura M. Warmuth,
Michael Sweet. Human‐induced salinity changes impact
marine organisms and ecosystems. Global Change Biology, 2023;
DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16859 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230712165119.htm

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