无码中文字幕一Av王,91亚洲精品无码,日韩人妻有码精品专区,911亚洲精选国产青草衣衣衣

News Flash

Shellfish under threat from ocean acidification

By Wu Chong (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-12-03 14:47
Large Medium Small

CANCUN, Mexico?- Certain ocean organisms, particularly shellfish and corals, are losing their ability to form skeletons as a result of increasing "ocean acidification," a marine environmental problem triggered by accumulating concentrations of dissolved carbon dioxide in the ocean, a new report said.

Related readings:
Shellfish under threat from ocean acidification Nations urged to think beyond borders
Shellfish under threat from ocean acidification Top climate negotiator talks about China's role in Cancun
Shellfish under threat from ocean acidification UN climate change chief praises efforts by China and US
Shellfish under threat from ocean acidification Japan's decision vexes Cancun meeting

In turn, some marine species that are dependent or feed on shell-building organisms, including the clown fish, may find it harder to avoid their predators and to make their way home.

These findings were released by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) on Thursday at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico.

Carol Turley, a senior scientist at the UK's Plymouth Marine Laboratory, which collaborated with UNEP in the research, told the media that such phenomena were posing a threat to billions of people who depend directly or indirectly on shellfish for protein and livelihoods.

The researchers said they observed an acidification process currently at a speed not seen in 65 million years?- since the extinction of dinosaurs. And the mean pH value of the ocean has decreased by 30 percent.

"This is a global issue," Turley said. "All oceans are affected, though some of them are affected earlier."

She pointed out that in those highly industrialized areas where sulfur is added to the ocean, the impact is even bigger.

According to Tim Kasten with UNEP, the quickest way to stop this aggravation is "rapid and substantial" carbon emission cuts.

"The other thing is to determine the vulnerability (of different species) to ocean acidification," he added.

分享按鈕