Scientists express concern after observing behavior of ancient creatures: ‘Like sentinels, they warn us’

Tiny ocean creatures are sending us an urgent message about ocean warming, and it’s time to listen, according to a recent study in association with Max Planck Institute for Chemistry.

what’s going on

Of the ocean planktonic foraminiferamicroscopic animals with hard calcium carbonate shells, struggle to survive as the waters are warming and become more acidic.

A new study in the journal Nature analyzed nearly 200,000 data sets since 1910 to track how these organisms respond to changing ocean conditions. The findings paint a worrying picture: their populations have declined by 25% over the past 80 years.

“Our data show that planktonic foraminifera, which play a crucial role in the ocean’s carbon cycle, are struggling to survive in a rapidly changing climate.” said lead researcher Sonia Chaabane from the European Center for Research and Teaching in Environmental Geosciences and the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry. “These organisms are like sentinels, alerting us to the drastic effects that warming and acidification are having on marine ecosystems.”

These little animals are doing everything they can to stay alive. Many species move to colder waters near the poles at speeds of up to 10 kilometers per year. Others swim deeper into the ocean to escape the rising surface temperature.

But these survival strategies may not be enough. Some scientists warn that many species may face conditions beyond what they can handle by 2100.

Why are planktonic foraminifera so important?

These crustaceans serve as early warning signs of broader ocean health problems.

They play an important role in storing carbon dioxide; when they die, their shell sinks to the bottom of the sea, naturally removing CO2 from the water. But ocean acidification makes it harder for them to build their shells, so this natural carbon storage system breaks down.

The greatest losses occur in tropical waters, where intense warming disrupts their ability to reproduce. This causes problems not just for the foraminifera, but for all the sea life that depends on them.

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What can we do to help?

Making smart choices about energy use and supporting clean energy can help slow ocean warming and acidification.
Simple switches like using energy efficient applianceschoosing public transportand cutting back unnecessary consumption all come together to make a difference for ocean health.

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