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https://theconversation.com/alien-species-are-moving-across-oceans-faster-climate-change-will-accelerate-this-184415>
"Oceans and coastlines have been subjected to human use for centuries. But the
effects of human activity on the oceans are now more extensive, with the
resulting changes happening more rapidly than ever before.
It is hard to find a spot in the ocean that has not been invaded by an alien
species. Shipping is a big contributor to this process as over 90% of the
world’s trade occurs via shipping.
The marine environment is changing too: ocean temperatures, salinity,
chemistry, sea levels, ice content and weather patterns are all being altered
as a result of climate change. These changes in oceanic environments are bound
to affect biological invasions.
In a recent paper, we explored the implications of climate change along the
entire invasion process. We found that climate change is likely to lead to more
marine invasions because it will shift which species are moved, how they are
moved and where they are moved to.
On top of this, climate change will alter where alien and native species have
the greatest chance of survival and spread. Climate change essentially makes
marine invasions less predictable. The patterns and processes that have
underpinned invasions in the past can’t be transferred to future invasions.
And that is expected to bring a consequent decline in the ecosystem services
that people currently enjoy from the ocean."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
