A recent research report highlights a pressing environmental concern: the rapid decrease of dissolved oxygen levels across the globe’s aquatic ecosystems, which is significantly threatening Earth’s biosphere.
Findings published by Science Alert
According to the findings published by Science Alert, a group of American scientists attributes this alarming trend primarily to climate change and the emissions of greenhouse gases.
The core issue stems from the fact that warmer waters retain less oxygen, which is vital for the survival of marine organisms, paralleling the importance of atmospheric oxygen for terrestrial life forms, including humans and other animals.
Planetary boundaries
The research collective is advocating for the recognition of aquatic deoxygenation as a critical addition to the existing list of “planetary boundaries”.
These boundaries consist of nine predefined thresholds critical to maintaining conditions favorable for human prosperity and development.
The current list encompasses climate change, ocean acidification, depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer, disturbances in the global cycles of phosphorus and nitrogen, the accelerated loss of biodiversity, freshwater consumption, transformations in land use, aerosol concentrations in the atmosphere, and the spread of chemical pollutants.
Some more findings in Science Alert Publication
In their publication, the scientists emphasize that the decreasing oxygen levels in both freshwater and marine environments should be considered a crucial component of these planetary boundaries.
This is because it is integral to the health of Earth’s ecological and societal structures, influencing and being influenced by other planetary boundary processes.
Other factors in research
They alert that the rate at which critical oxygen thresholds are nearing matches that of other environmental challenges outlined as planetary boundaries.
Additionally, the research points out other factors contributing to the depletion of aquatic oxygen levels. These include the explosion of algae and bacteria populations fueled by the runoff of organic materials and nutrients, such as those found in agricultural and domestic fertilizers, sewage, and industrial waste, into water bodies.