SUFB 872: Climate Change And Ocean Acidity Reducing Carbon-Absorbing Plankton
How To Protect The Ocean · Speak Up For Blue
Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (traffic.libsyn.com) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.
Show Notes
Every second breath of air we take is due to the Ocean. Phytoplankton is responsible for this great breath of fresh air because they use photosynthesis to produce Oxygen while using up CO2 in the process. It is also one of the reasons why Climate Change has not grown out of control; however, Climate Change has affected the development and abundance of phytoplankton over time.
A new study shows diatoms, a species of phytoplankton with a silica cell wall that absorbs CO2 and sinks down to the bottom of the Ocean, where the CO2 is fixed onto the seafloor. The diatoms sink because of their heavy silica wall. Unfortunately, the silica wall in diatoms has been shrinking as the Oceans become more acidic. The silica walls have become smaller and the diatoms are not sinking to the seafloor where the CO2 can be fixed.
Find out more details by listening to the episode.
Do you think this is a problem that can be fixed? Share your thoughts on the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.
Want to be more eco-friendly? Buy certified eco-friendly products from our affiliate partner the Grove Collaborative: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.
Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.