PROJECT FROM SEM 198 CONTROVERSIAL BIOLOGY.

1. Commotion in the Ocean
Teachers Pet. (n.d.) Commotion in the Ocean Banner. [JPG]. Retrieved
from https://tpet.co.uk/downloads/commotion-in-the-ocean-banner/
How Climate Change Affects
Oceans
By Adam, Keriece, Henry, and Nick

2. Our oceans and their importance
● Our world’s oceans cover 71% of the planets surface
● Mitigates weather extremes
● Generates oxygen
● Produces food
● Stores the excess carbon dioxide (CO2) we generate
Oceans and Climate Change.(2019, November 27). Oceanfdn.org. Retrieved
from https://oceanfdn.org/ocean-and-climate-change/.

3. What does Climate Change affect in our oceans?
● Coral Reefs
● Marine Life
● Sea Levels
● Temperature
● Acidification
● Food Sources
MBARI. (2019). Climate Change and the ocean. [PNG]. Retrieved from https://www.mbari.org/climate-change/.

4. Shark pups lose gains in stressed environments
● Shark pups grown in a degraded environment (damaged reefs) grew less.
● Shark pups grown in pristine conditions grew more and were healthier.
● This puts shark populations at risk.
● This issue is due to human induced stressors.
ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies. (2019, September 17). Shark pups lose gains in
stressed environments. ScienceDaily. Retrieved from
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/09/190917104503.html.

5. Coral Bleaching is caused by more than just heat
Stressors that cause
coral reef bleaching:
Science in Public. (2019, October 1).Coral Bleaching is caused by more than just heat. Phys.org. Retrieved
from https://phys.org/news/2019-10-coral.html.
● Heat
● Light exposure
● Nutrients
● Location

6. News Staff. (2015, Sep 16). Marine Populations in Serious Decline
Worldwide: WWF Report. Sci-News. Retrieved from http://www.sci-
news.com/biology/science-marine-populations-decline-living-blue-planet-
report-03246.html.
Marine populations in serious decline worldwide: WWF Report
● Based on Living Planet Index
● Based on 40 years of population data
● Tracked 5,829 populations of 1,234 different marine species
● Over-Exploitation identified as major threat to Ocean Biodiversity
● Declines caused by rising temperatures and increasing acidity levels
● 25% of all ocean fish depend on coral reefs for survival
● 850 Million people depend on coral reefs for economic, social and cultural benefits

7. Marine populations in serious decline
worldwide: WWF Report Analyses
Marine Populations from 1970 to 2012 49%
Fish used in Human Consumption 74%
Fish that depend on Coral Reefs 34%
Coral Reefs Mangroves Seagrasses
News Staff. (2015, Sep 16). Marine Populations in Serious Decline Worldwide: WWF Report. Sci-News. Retrieved
from http://www.sci-news.com/biology/science-marine-populations-decline-living-blue-planet-report-03246.html.

8. Can oceans turn the tide on the climate crisis? (2019, October 9). Phys.org. Retrieved
from https://phys.org/news/2019-10-oceans-tide-climate-crisis.html.
Can oceans turn the tide on the climate crisis?
● A new study shows that our oceans absorb more CO2 than previously thought
● Ocean acidification
● Thermal expansion
● The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s recent Special Report
on the Ocean and Cryosphere

9. Question
1
SIMILARITIES DIFFERENCES
● Negative human interaction is the main
source of damage/contribution to
climate change
● Poses a direct threat to our economy
(Fishing industry/ Trade)
● Major decline in marine life
● Increase in coral reef loss.
How do the research questions of each study align?

10. Question 3
● Causes of Coral Bleaching besides heat
● The effects humans and climate change
have on newborn reef sharks and fish
populations
● More accurate measurements of how much
carbon dioxide the ocean is absorbing
● Call for action of decision makers to control
climate change
Troy Mane. (n.d). Green turtles swimming in the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland. [JPEG]. Retrieved
from http://www.sci-news.com/biology/science-marine-populations-decline-living-blue-planet-report-
03246.html.
How are the experiments able to add scientific knowledge to our current
understanding of Climate Change?

11. Question 4
What do we know?
● The fish population is decreasing
● CO2 emissions are increasing
● Poor environment for marine life
● Coral reef bleaching
● Ocean Temperatures are rising
What can we do?
● Spread the word
● Support organizations
● Reduce waste
● Plant trees
● Carry your own bottle & straw
How does society benefit collectively from all of these studies?

12. Question 5
● Are there any efforts to restore coral reefs that have been affected by bleaching?
● What is an example of lifestyle effects humans could see as a result of reduced
shark and fish populations?
● Which actions cause the most CO2 emissions to become absorbed by the oceans?
What questions could be asked to further scientific knowledge of Climate Change?
Global Ocean Absorbing More Carbon.(2019, November 27). Noaa.gov. Retrieved from
https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/global-ocean-absorbing-more-carbon.

13. Conclusion
● Climate change is happening
more rapidly than at any other
point in millions of years
● At this rate coral reefs could go
extinct by 2050
● Less variety of food will be
available for consumption.
● Decrease in tourism attractions
● Ocean temperatures continue to
rise to unsafe levels
● Humans and climate change are
detrimental to our oceans

14. Continuation
● Sea levels are rising quickly!
● We must take action!
Fernandez, Juan. (2019 September 2). The Sand is Gone and Never Coming Back. Retrieved
from https://www.eleditor.net/medio-ambiente/la-arena-se-nos-va-y-no-volvera/.