The effects of Climate Change on Marine Life

The Smithsonian Museums present the discovery of new knowledge and preserve our
history for the public. The Natural History Museum shows the fascinating world that surrounds
humans and their place in it. Looking closely at the Sant Ocean Hall and the Living on the
Ocean Planet exhibits, visitors learn about the biggest surface of the planet, the ocean. The
warming of the ocean, ocean acidification, and the ocean importance to every living organism,
including humans, are promulgated by these exhibitions to inform us of the everlasting effect of
climate change and its effect on marine life.
The earth has gone through several climate changes through its 4.6 billion year lifetime.
Its a natural process that the earth goes through during its lifetime, but something is different
about what the earth is going through right now. Many scientists believe that the accumulation
of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to fossil fuel combustion, land use change, and other
anthropogenic activities have accelerated the current natural warming trend (Dixon). This
accelerated warming phenomenon has caused a gradual increase of the temperature of the ocean.
The most affected are the Polar Regions that are becoming warmer much faster and creating a
significant amount of melting of the ice caps. As the ice caps melt, they release freshwater [that]
will create a layer over salt water because it is less dense, this in turn causes a [alternation] to
the very large current systems, called gyres, that govern climate (Atikkan). The loss of the caps
puts the Arctic in danger from the introduction of unfamiliar species, increased shipping, and
industrial exploitation (The Sant Ocean Hall). Also, as ice caps melt, sea level rises, many
ecosystems are at risk. Whether or not some may be able to adapt is up to the speed of the
changing climate system. The coral reef ecosystem is being put in danger as well by the increase
in temperature. These ecosystems are at risk of complete loss, with bleaching expected

worldwide for a 1C rise in sea surface temperature (Warner, Arnell, and Nicholls). The actual
organism contains microscopic algae that enables corals to thrive and create energy through
photosynthesis. The coral reef ecosystems provide food, jobs, recreation, and protection to
people worldwide (The Sant Ocean Hall). According to Dixon, healthy ecosystems and
functional biogeochemical cycles not only are the foundation of a sustainable biosphere, but also
provide many goods and services for human well-being.
Simultaneously, the rise in ocean temperature is driving marine animals to change their
location, moving further north or south. This is a direct result of the warming phenomenon
[that] causes the marine animals to change latitude because they favor a certain temperature and
the distribution of heat is changing (Atikkan). The warmer temperature of the ocean doesn't only
hurt our ecosystem, but also may create less predictable weather and more severe storms. The
occurrence of a storm can be prominent as hurricanes are the results of the temperature
difference of the ocean and the atmosphere (Atikkan). It is essentially like adding fuel to fire.
As the atmosphere and the ocean are becoming warmer because of the increase in the emissions
of carbon dioxide, they provide the best environment for a hurricane to form. The impact of
climate change on marine animals is substantial and creates change to living organisms.
However, the effects of climate change are going to be twofold as the ocean pH begins to
lower as well. Ocean acidification caused by the increased emission of carbon dioxide in our
atmosphere place marine animals at risk. Acidification of the ocean is created through the
process of the absorption of the carbon dioxide by seawater; carbon dioxide reacts to form
carbonic acid, and carbonic acid breaks into bicarbonate and hydrogen ions and reduces the
amount of carbonate(Ludwig). As the pH level decreases, shelled organisms are threatened and
as they lose resistance to disease and predation because the acidity of the ocean, it begins to

dissolve anything with calcium carbonate (Atikkan). This creates a huge shift in ecology and
decimates the established food chain in the ecosystem as small prey are reduced in numbers.
Humans depend on many of these shelled organism for food as marine and freshwater fisheries
[hunt them, that provide] a primary source of protein and other goods and services for humans
(Dixon). Humans have a choice to make in their vital role they have for the future of the ocean
because without the reduction of [carbon dioxide] emissions, the seafood of the future will be
monotonous and rubbery (The Sant Ocean Hall). Thus, the changes made through
anthropogenic activities establish long term effects of climate change on the ocean as carbon
dioxide [can] stay in the earths atmosphere for hundreds of years and it will take another
thousands of year for the oceans chemistry to return to normal (Living on an Ocean Planet).
The human relationship to the ocean is important in every aspect of human life, but many
still wonder why they should care. A healthy ocean depends on humans to take care of it and
their role is vital. As a society [we have a] choice to make, doing nothing is a choice (Living
on an Ocean Planet). The growing reduction of ice caps has created rising sea levels that
gradually will sink the coastlines surrounding the land and force humans to move more inland. It
will affect marine fisheries and change where humans catch fish, and as some organisms may
adapt, others will die out. Furthermore, the rise in temperature and the acidification of the ocean
will change the range of organisms. The severe weather caused by the warmer temperature can
also cause harsh conditions and a significant amount of damage around the coastline. The effects
of the ocean becoming warmer harm not only the marine organism, but also terrestrial
organisms, including us. The ocean is vital to our survival and to the many other animals that
share our planet.

The majority of our planet is covered with water; the ocean provides at least half of the
earths oxygen and the volume of water regulates temperature and drives weather systems (The
Sant Ocean Hall). The oceans healthy ecosystems provide us with an abundance of daily
materials that we need to survive. They provide us with food, fuel, fiber, fodder, medicines, and
energy (Dixon). The only planet in our solar system to have liquid water is failing at our own
hands, but we have the opportunity to resolve the problem before its too late. Its not too late to
avoid disaster, but we are running out of time, we can do many things to improve our planets
current state. Make your house more energy efficient, take public transportation, walk, or bike
rather than drive, and buy locally grown food (Living on an Ocean Planet). Changing a house
to become more energy efficient does help the environment, but also helps homeowners
financially, from changing light bulbs to unplugging electronics. Public transportation can
dramatically change the emission of gas into our planets atmosphere by cutting down the
amount of vehicles on the road. Finally, buying locally grown food reduces transportation, which
help decrease the emission of gas as well. These are some of things people can do to help our
ocean and the animals that coexist with us on this planet.
The exhibitions all agreed on one thing that the well-being of our ocean is in peril. The
warming of the ocean can cause several kinds of depletions, but most noticeable would be the
effect on marine life. Marine life would be affected dramatically if the climate change rate
becomes gradually faster because it wouldnt have the opportunity to adapt at the speed.
Secondly, the acidification of the ocean diminishes shelled organisms, our food and the food of
the highest predators in their food chain, and places coral reef ecosystems in danger. This period
of climate change is natural; however, the rate is gradually increasing through our activities. We
made this happen; now it is our job to fix it and restore the natural climate cycle of the planet

Works Cited Page

Atikkan, Esat. PhD; Adj Prof, Biology, Adj Prof, Physical Education, Montgomery College.
Interview by Joseangel . 23 Oct. 2015.
Dixon, Robert K. "Climate Impacts." Encyclopedia of Global Change. : Oxford University Press,
2001. Oxford Reference. 2005. Web. 25 Oct. 2015
Living on an Ocean Planet. Natural History Museum. 10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20560. 22 October 2015
Ludwig, Claudia, et al. "Ocean Acidification." The Science Teacher 82.6 (2015): 41-8. ProQuest.
Web. 25 Oct. 2015.
The Sant Ocean Hall. Natural History Museum. 10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington,
DC 20560. 22 October 2015
Warren, Rachel, Nigel Arnell, and Robert Nicholls. "Impacts of Climate Change." The Oxford
Companion to Global Change. : Oxford University Press, 2008. Oxford Reference. 2009. Web.
25 Oct. 2015