Climate Change Affects Shark Swimming in Strange Way

By Stephanie Pappas, Live Science Contributor | September 16, 2014 07:01pm ET

Sharks exposed to ocean water acidified by too much carbon dioxide alter their behavior, swimming in longer spurts than sharks in typical ocean water, particularly during their nighttime wanderings.

The new findings, published today (Sept. 16) in the journal Biology Letters, are troubling, given that one effect of the human consumption of fossil fuels is to make ocean water more acidic. If fossil fuel burning continues as is, sharks may face even more challenges than they do today — when a quarter of species are already at risk of extinction.

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Deep sea fish remove one million tons of carbon dioxide every year from UK and Irish waters

Date:

June 3, 2014

Source:

University of Southampton

Summary:

Deep sea fishes remove and store more than one million tons of CO2 from UK and Irish surface waters every year, according to a new study. This natural carbon capture and storage scheme could store carbon equivalent to £10 million per year in carbon credits Fish living in deep waters on the continental slope around the UK play an important role carrying carbon from the surface to the seafloor.

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Jumping Snails Left Grounded in Future Oceans

Jan. 7, 2014 — Sea snails that leap to escape their predators may soon lose their extraordinary jumping ability because of rising human carbon dioxide emissions, a team of international scientists has discovered.

Lead author of the study published today, Dr Sue-Ann Watson from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (Coral CoE) and James Cook University observed that the conch snail, which uses a strong foot to leap away from approaching predators, either stops jumping, or takes longer to jump, when exposed to the levels of carbon dioxide projected for the end of this century.

Read on

Even if emissions stop, carbon dioxide could warm Earth for centuries say scientists

November 2013: Even if carbon dioxide emissions came to a sudden halt, the carbon dioxide already in Earth's atmosphere could continue to warm our planet for hundreds of years, say researchers.

Princeton University-led research, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, suggests that it might take a lot less carbon than previously thought to reach the global temperature scientists deem unsafe.The researchers used a computer model of Earth to test what would happen if after 1,800 billion tons of carbon entered the atmosphere, all carbon dioxide emissions suddenly stopped.

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In Beef Production, Cow-Calf Phase Contributes Most Greenhouse Gases

Jan. 30, 2013 — Scientists have long known that cattle produce carbon dioxide and methane throughout their lives, but a new study pinpoints the cow-calf stage as a major contributor of greenhouse gases during beef production.

In a new paper for the Journal of Animal Science, scientists estimate greenhouse gas emissions from beef cattle during different stages of life. They show that, depending on which production system farmers used, beef production has a carbon footprint ranging from 10.7 to 22.6 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent per kg of hot carcass weight.

According to study co-author Frank Mitloehner, an associate professor in the Department of Animal Science at UC Davis, one source of greenhouse gases was surprising.

"If you look at everything that contributes to greenhouse gases through the beef supply chain, then it is the cow-calf that produces the greatest greenhouse gases," Mitloehner said.

In the cow-calf phase, the cow gives birth and nurses the calf until the calf is six to 10 months old. During this time, the cow eats rough plants like hay and grasses. The methane-producing bacteria in the cow's gut thrive on these plants.

Read on:  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130130132451.htm

Naked Mole-Rats May Hold Clues to Pain Relief

ScienceDaily (Sep. 21, 2012) — Naked mole-rats evolved to thrive in an acidic environment that other mammals, including humans, would find intolerable. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago report new findings as to how these rodents have adapted to this environment.

The study was published online this week on PLOS ONE.

In the tightly crowded burrows of the African naked mole-rats' world, carbon dioxide builds up to levels that would be toxic for other mammals, and the air becomes highly acidic. These animals freely tolerate these unpleasant conditions, says Thomas Park, professor of biological sciences at UIC and principal investigator of the study -- which may offer clues to relieving pain in other animals and humans.

Much of the lingering pain of an injury, for example, is caused by acidification of the injured tissue, Park said.

Continued:   http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120921180752.htm 

Global carbon emissions reach record, says IEA

30 May 2011 Last updated at 21:33

World leaders agreed last year to curb emissions and limit the rise in global temperature to 2C

Energy-related carbon emissions reached a record level last year, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The watchdog says emissions rose again after a dip caused by the financial crisis in 2009, and ended 5% up from the previous record in 2008.

China and India account for most of the rise, though emissions have also grown in developed countries.

The increase raises doubts over whether planned curbs on greenhouse emissions will be achieved, the group says.

At a meeting last year in Cancun, Mexico, world leaders agreed that deep cuts were needed to limit the rise in global temperature to 2C above pre-industrial levels.

But according to the IEA's estimate, worldwide CO2 emissions from the energy sector reached a record 30.6 gigatonnes in 2010.

The IEA's Fatih Birol said the finding was "another wake-up call".

"The world has edged incredibly close to the level of emissions that should not be reached until 2020 if the 2C target is to be attained," he added.

"Unless bold and decisive decisions are made very soon, it will be extremely challenging to succeed in achieving this global goal agreed in Cancun."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13595174

Carbon dioxide threat to reefs

Reductions in carbon dioxide levels likely to be agreed by G8 leaders will not be enough to save coral reefs, a group of leading scientists has warned.

Proposals to limit Co2 levels to 450 parts per million (ppm) will not prevent the "catastrophic loss of coral reefs" from the combined effects of climate change and ocean acidification, the scientists argued at a meeting at the Royal Society co-chaired by Sir David Attenborough.

To save coral reefs, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels must be reduced significantly below 350ppm, they said.

Sir David described coral reefs as "the canary in the cage" in relation to climate change.
"They are the places where damage is most easily and quickly done," he said. "We must do all that is necessary to protect the key components of the life of our planet as the consequences of decisions made now will likely be forever as far as humanity is concerned."

G8 leaders are expected to agree to limit Co2 levels to 450ppm when they meet in Copenhagen in December to decide on a global plan to combat climate change.

The scientists, who have drafted a statement on the science and management of coral reef eco-systems in a changing climate, said that in addition to reductions, the active removal of Co2 from the atmosphere was necessary to achieve the safe level that would prevent reefs from becoming extinct.

Dr Alex Rogers of the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO) and the Zoological Society of London (ZFL), said: "The kitchen is on fire and it's spreading round the house. If we act quickly and decisively we may be able to put it out before the damage becomes irreversible - that is where corals are now."

Over-fishing, destructive fishing, coastal pollution and sedimentation were also increasing the vulnerability of coral reefs and decreasing their ability to recover from climate change, he warned.

Coral reefs are the most biologically diverse habitats on Earth and provide essential eco-system goods and services to hundreds of millions of people, the scientists' statement argues.




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