Life on the edge: Is ocean acidification a threat to deep-sea life?

Even animals living in the deep ocean are affected by the increasing emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The ocean naturally absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, resulting in a more acidic habitat for ocean life. Researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute use a series of specially designed chambers to study how deep-sea animals will respond to this change in ocean chemistry. They also bring animals into the laboratory, where the animals can be observed as they are exposed to seawater resembling current and future carbon-dioxide levels. It is important to understand how deep-sea animals will respond to impending changes in ocean chemistry because a disturbance to one part of an ecosystem can have cascading effects throughout the entire ecosystem.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• ocean acidification
• deep-sea
• ocean life
• carbon dioxide
• co2
• rockfish
• urchin
• oxygen minimum zone

[BunchesMcGee]

As CO2 levels rise in the ocean, wouldn't sea plant populations increase as well and influence the CO2 levels?

[MBARIvideo]

@BunchesMcGee: Good question! Scientists all over the world are still trying to wrap their heads around this complex question. Many processes influence this "biological pump" action of the oceans, including photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, microbial degradation, etc. The way these processes are individually and collectively influenced by ocean acidification is a hot topic gaining a lot of attention in the scientific community right now.

[SplendidGeryon]

Thanks for the video.

What is the creature at 2:28?

[MBARIvideo]

@SplendidGeryon Hi the animal at 2:28 is a sea cucumber, or holothurian. The species is Scotoplanes globosa. We affectionately refer to them as sea pigs!

[whatsanme]

What about Ocean radiation??

[MBARIvideo]

@whatsanme: Great question! Unfortunately, we have no research projects focusing on that particular subject.

[thomasg74]

It Is My Firm belief that a cure for cancer will be found in the ocean,Lets all do our bit to keep it clean and viable.

[SplendidGeryon]

@MBARIvideo Thank you so much!

[Chronix74]

Thanks for Sharing!

I did not know that sea acidity was a problem... it makes sense.

[DjKavai]

Protect the sea )

[xxxhkh117xxx]

4:12, is that bucket full of urchins O___O

[whatsanme]

@MBARIvideo :(. i love ur channel. And was intrested in this subject as well. Keep on posting)