Global Warming

Warming sea has killed 20% phytoplankton that fish eat

A new study has revealed shocking data that shows the adverse effects of rising temperature on the water bodies and organisms living in them too. According to the study, there has been significant fall in the number of fishes present in the rivers and oceans in last five years due to which fishermen are finding it difficult to fill their boats for the living.

Researchers started testing and found that rising temperature has affected the population of phytoplankton. There has been 20 percent reduction in the amount of phytoplankton over last six decades said Roxy Mathew Koll, a scientist at the Centre for Climate Change Research at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune.

Phytoplankton is a microscopic plant that plays an important role in food chain cycle as fishes eat them as their food. Reduction in the amount of phytoplankton means lesser food available for fishes which further may cascade through the food chain, potentially turning this biologically productive region into an ecological desert.

These changes are due to the rising temperature as Indian ocean has witnessed 1.2 degree Celcius average temperature rise over last century. Study authors explained that ground water is nutrient rich and surface water mixes with groundwater to receive necessary nutrients. Hotter surface temperature leads to improper mixing. Since planktons grow in surface water, there has been nutrient deficit which has led to the population decline.

The impact can be seen near the coast line around India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Countries including America, Europe and Japan will also soon experience the impact. Thus, researchers have warned that strict steps are required to control the catastrophic condition.