Invasive Marine Species Benefiting From High Carbon Dioxide Levels

Researchers found that some invasive marine species are actually benefiting from ocean acidification, according to a study at the University of Plymouth in the UK.

The researchers found that invasive species of algae, crabs, shellfish and jellyfish are migrating into new areas of the planet where they have damaging effects to the new environments that they are inhabiting. The researchers also found that algae and jellyfish can thrive under acidic conditions.

"We are witnessing the spread of marine life that cause problems, such as toxic jellyfish blooms and rotting algal mats. We predict the problems associated with harmful marine life will get worse in response to rising CO₂," Professor Jason Hall-Spencer, lead author of the study, said in a news release. "Pathogens like cholera do not recognize national borders, so seawater warming is a health issue for cities like London, and it remains to be seen which organisms will spread and cause problems as Arctic shipping routes open up."

The researchers found that "nuisance" species such as stinging jellyfish and Japanese kelp become adaptable as CO₂ levels increase in the ocean. The researchers found that in the tropics corals reefs are faced with interconnected problems such as bleaching, spreading seaweed, invasive species, corrosion and disease as CO₂ levels go up.

Also, there is a type of "killer algae" which is spreading worldwide. This type of algae thrives under high levels of CO₂ and is so toxic that herbivores would rather die of starvation than to eat it. The researchers also found that American slipper limpets have spread to various parts of Europe, where it has become one of the 100 most invasive species. Likewise, the king-crabs' invasion of the northeast Atlantic and Pacific has had a major impact on oysters and scallops, which has had reduction in survival and growth.

"Observations show there will be winners as well as losers as CO₂ levels ramp up, just as there were in previous mass extinctions," said Ro Allen, a researcher of the study. "The spread of harmful marine organisms should be factored into risks of rising CO₂ emissions."

This study was published in Research and Reports in Biodiversity Studies.

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