13 OCTOBER 2017 • 6:24PM
Populations of mussels, clams and
oysters produce “ridiculous” levels of climate-warming gasses on a par with
herds of cattle, a new
study shows.
Scientists have warned the ocean creatures
are producing large amounts of the strongest greenhouse gases - methane and
nitrous oxides - from the bacteria in their guts.
This methane bubbles out of the water
contributing to global warming as it as 28 times greater warming potential than
carbon dioxide.
These small yet very abundant animals may
play an important, but so far neglected, role in regulating the emissions of
greenhouse gases in the seaDr Stefano Bonaglia, Stockholm University
The finding are significant as it is proposed
to expand the farming of oysters, mussels and clams to help feed growing
populations.
Posts
