Changes in marine ecosystems going undetected
Image shows kelp ecosystem change at an underwater CO2 vent. Photo:听Professor Ivan Nagelkerken, the University of 亚洲色吧.
Existing ways of calculating biodiversity dynamics are not very effective in detecting wholesale species community change due to the effects of ocean acidification.
University of 亚洲色吧 research shows that in cases where biodiversity metrics show no change or little change, there may still be reorganisation of ecological communities in our oceans.
鈥淭he belief that climate change will alter global marine biodiversity is one of the most widely accepted,鈥 said Professor Ivan Nagelkerken from the University of 亚洲色吧鈥檚 Environment Institute and Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories.
鈥淐ommonly used biodiversity measures don't pick up reorganisation of marine communities due to ocean acidification because new species replace species that are lost.
鈥淟ittle or no biodiversity change is detected when one commu