New research has raised alarm bells about the potential consequences of climate change on the deep ocean. Scientists are warning that global warming could have a dramatic impact on life in the deepest regions of the ocean that are reached by sunlight. Specifically, the so-called “twilight zone”, which spans depths between 200 meters and 1,000 meters, is at risk of losing up to 40% of its life by the end of this century.
In a study led by the University of Exeter, researchers delved into the past to understand how warmer periods in Earth’s history affected the twilight zone. By examining preserved microscopic shells from approximately 50 million and 15 million years ago, they discovered that fewer organisms inhabited the zone during those periods. This was attributed to the quicker degradation of food by bacteria, resulting in less nourishment reaching the twilight zone from the surface.
Dr. Katherine Crichton, the lead author of the study, explained that the diverse array of life in the twilight zone evolved over the past few millions years when ocean waters cooled down, acting like a refrigerator that preserved food for longer durations. These improved conditions allowed life to thrive in this crucial habitat.
In fact, the twilight zone, also known as the “disphotic zone”, is a vital ecosystem that hosts a plethora of marine life. Although photosynthesis cannot occur due to the limited sunlight, it is home to more fish than the rest of the ocean combined, along with various microbes, plankton, and jellies, according to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Moreover, it plays a critical role in mitigating climate change by serving as a carbon sink, drawing planet-heating gases out of the atmosphere.
By simulating the current and future conditions in the twilight zone, scientists have shed light on the potential consequences of climate warming, since their findings indicate that significant changes may already be underway. «Our study is a first step to finding out how vulnerable this ocean habitat may be to climate warming – said Dr. Crichton. Unless we rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, this could lead to the disappearance or extinction of much twilight zone life within 150 years, with effects spanning millennia thereafter».
The research, published in the journal Nature Communications, serves as a sobering reminder of the urgent need to address climate change. Preserving the delicate balance of the twilight zone is not only essential for the countless species that call it home but also for the overall health of our planet. It is crucial that we take immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the diverse and irreplaceable ecosystems that lie beneath the ocean’s surface. The fate of the deep ocean and its inhabitants rests in our hands, and the time to act is now.
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