Slight Increases in the Temperature of Ocean Water Can Negatively Affect Marine Life Forms

Researchers who have been working and studying in Antarctica have recently published their findings from their experiments in Current Biology. They discovered that some marine species lives can be doubled when the ocean water temperature increases. The increase in the temperature doesn’t have to be drastic though, only about 1 or 2 degrees Celsius can make a difference. The researchers spent six long years working hard to perfect the technology they would use to conduct their experiments.  In addition to the six very long years, the researchers also spent 18 months experimenting in Antarctica. As a result of their hard work and great amount of time, they produced “unassuming black plastic boxes” which constantly discharged heat. The article stated that “The boxes looked like car batteries sitting on concrete blocks in around 50 feet of water off Adelaide Island and the Antarctic Peninsula.” Researchers gave the boxes electricity with cables running from the shore. Although it was a well thought out idea, it was quickly ended when an iceberg damaged all the cables. While conducting their experiment, they also found out that some organisms flourished in warmer temperatures while others did not. In the warmer water, a marine worm grew about 70% larger than its original size and moss animals occupied a majority of the space in the water. The researchers all agree that there could be serious consequences if one species over takes another, leaving us with a winner and a loser in the future.