Why Marine Creatures Fleeing Their Homes?

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Tekirdag, Türkiye: Sea water temperatures have increased by approximately 1.5 degrees Celsius in the Mediterranean and 0.5 degrees in the Black Sea in the last 100 years, and the change is causing deterioration of the marine ecosystem, stated an expert.

Climate change has led to record-breaking heat on land and sea as well, a development that has led marine creatures to change their habitats, according to an expert.

Tekirdag Namik Kemal University Biology Professor Deniz Sirin said the distribution and life cycles of some fish species have changed as they have become more susceptible to diseases.

The Turkish Marine Research Foundation’s report on climate change and seas explains that the presence of species such as sardines, bogues and salema, which live in the Mediterranean and were rare in the Black Sea and Marmara two decades ago, can be attributed to the rise in sea temperatures.

The emergence of sunfish from the south of the Mediterranean to the Marmara Sea, as well as sea urchins, which are invertebrate, in the North Aegean and Marmara Sea, is also due to the effects of global warming, further said Professor.

Deniz added that species suitable for living in the Mediterranean began to gradually spread to the Northern Aegean, Marmara and even the Black Sea as the water warmed.

The increase in sea temperature also causes algal blooms, bringing adverse effects on aquatic organisms, Dr Sirin mentioned.

Dr Deniz explained that algal blooms occur when substances such as nitrogen or phosphorus enter the water system, causing excessive algae growth. It blocks sunlight and decreases the level of oxygen, making it difficult for aquatic life to survive.

Toxic algae blooms were blamed for recent deaths of sea lions and dolphins along the coast of California’s southern beaches.

It is believed that small creatures such as shellfish consume the toxins before being eaten by larger marine mammals, who then become toxified themselves.