Have you ever thought about how climate change could profoundly affect the oceans in ways we don't imagine? A recent study published in Nature Climate Change shed light on a worrying and little-known phenomenon: the upwelling. These are flows of cold water rising from the depths to the surface, and appear to have become more frequent and intense due to global warming.
These upwelling they are not just a trivial change in temperature, but can have lethal consequences for tropical marine fauna. Think about it: especially like him bull sharksthe manta ray hey raysaccustomed to warm tropical waters, suddenly find themselves trapped in much colder waters, with a drop of more than 10°C compared to their norm.
The event studied in 2021 off the coast of South Africa was particularly dramatic. More than 260 marine organisms Of 81 different species they died due to this phenomenon. Carcasses of sea creatures, including the baby of a large manta ray, have been found washed up on beaches, having found themselves in these cold traps from which they were unable to escape.
The scientists used latest sea surface temperature data and wind recordings 41 years oldas well as tracking shark movements with tags satelliteto better understand the frequency and the intensity of these fatal events. They found that the areas affected by these lethal colds have increased over time, endangering not only single individuals but the entire genetic diversity of some species.
Upwelling: a death trap
The change in the behavior of these animals was evident. For example, bull sharks have started swimming closer to the surface and taking refuge in bays and estuaries to avoid thermal shock. However, despite their mobility and ability to adapt, many were unable to escape.
This study shows us how crucial it can be to think about new marine conservation strategies that take into account the complex and often unexpected impacts of climate change. Expand protected areas and change conservation priorities could be critical to protecting these vulnerable species.
What do you think? Have you ever considered how a simple change in temperature can have such devastating consequences? Did you know about upwelling? Do you think we are doing enough to protect our marine life in the face of these new risks?
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