Rising carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the consequent changes created through ocean acidification will cause severe ecosystem effects, impacting reef-forming habitats and the associated fish, according to new research.

Using submerged natural CO₂ seeps off the Japanese Island of Shikine, an international team of marine biologists showed that even slightly higher CO₂ concentrations than those existing today may cause profound changes in marine habitats and the fish that rely on them.

Writing in Science of The Total Environment, researchers from the Universities of Palermo (Italy), Tsukuba (Japan) and Plymouth showed that under elevated dissolved CO₂ conditions, habitats are dominated by few ephemeral algae.

The full text of this article is available on the official website of the University of Plymouth:
https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/news/rising-carbon-dioxide-levels-will-change-marine-habitats-and-fish-communities.

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Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA)