Climate change, along with various human activities, is endangering marine life, even in nearly untouched ocean areas and rich coastal ecosystems, according to a recent study.
Climate change, alongside other human influences, is threatening marine species with extinction, even in nearly pristine ocean habitats and biodiverse coastal areas. This findings come from a study led by Casey O’Hara from the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and published on September 18, 2024, in the open-access journal PLOS ONE.
Human impact on both land and water, combined with climate change, is harming coastal ecosystems. This increases the extinction risk for many species and jeopardizes crucial ecosystem services that humans rely on. Understanding the extent and locations of human-made pressures on marine ecosystems is essential to tackle these challenges effectively.
In this study, researchers assessed the effects of human actions on over 21,000 marine species globally, taking into account their vulnerability and exposure to various stressors, such as fishing, shipping activities, and land-derived threats. They created maps showing how these impacts are distributed throughout the oceans, highlighting areas where climate-related effects intersect with other human-induced stressors.
The analysis revealed that even locations that appear relatively unspoiled can host species that are significantly threatened. Moreover, many coastal areas with high species diversity may face elevated risks that previous studies, which concentrated only on habitats, overlooked. The research also discovered that the dangers posed by climate change—particularly raised sea surface temperatures and ocean acidification—were more severe compared to other human-induced factors, independent of the type of ecosystem studied.
Among marine groups, corals were found to be the most vulnerable overall. Mollusks like squid and octopuses, echinoderms such as sea stars and sea urchins, and crustaceans including shrimp, crabs, and lobsters were also identified as highly at risk.
The findings of this research shed light on which species and habitats are most threatened and where conservation efforts should be concentrated. The researchers aim to integrate this data with socioeconomic factors to help prioritize conservation strategies that are effective, economically feasible, and equitable, ultimately benefiting both the environment and human communities.
Casey O’Hara commented, “Our species-centered approach helps pinpoint specific practices and activities that significantly impact vulnerable marine species. While broad protections like exclusive marine reserves effectively preserve marine biodiversity, they can also lead to economic challenges for local communities and generate political resistance. We believe our study identifies opportunities for targeted, politically viable, and cost-effective strategies to reduce threats to biodiversity. These could include implementing focused fishing gear regulations, enhancing agricultural practices to diminish nutrient runoff, and providing incentives for slower shipping speeds.”
