THE CAUSES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS IN THE MARINE ECOSYSTEM AND ITS

EFFECT ON THE WORLD

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The Causes of Biodiversity Loss in the Marine Ecosystem and its Effect on the World
Mohammed (Zack) Salah
Portland State University

THE CAUSES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS IN THE MARINE ECOSYSTEM AND ITS

EFFECT ON THE WORLD
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Introduction
In this paper, I will discuss the causes of biodiversity loss in the marine ecosystem and
their effect on the world. I have come across several articles, books and documentaries that
mention the importance of marine biodiversity to humans and the planet as a whole. For
example, the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and many other important elements is performed by
marine organisms. Thus, marine organisms are essential to the world, humans and other creatures
(Brierley & Kingsford, 2009). The connection between life and water is strong. The beginning of
life started in water 1.3 billion years ago. At the present time, the Earth is 300 times more
habitable because water currently covers over 70% of the world (Brierley & Kingsford, 2009).
These Boundaries are Planetary Boundaries , which define a safe operating space for humanity
with respect to the earth limitations. During my research, I have obtained considerable
knowledge of how the marine biodiversity loss boundary affects other boundaries and vise versa,
not to mention the connection between our contributions to the marine biodiversity loss and how
that will affect the security of our future. I have found three factors that impact the marine
biodiversity loss boundary the most negatively. These negative factors are climate change,
pollution, and overfishing.

Climate change
Nowadays, the climate change boundary has had a major impact on all other planetary
boundaries. However, some boundaries are affected more than others. For instance, the
biodiversity loss boundary is majorly affected by the climate change boundary because the
climate change boundary regulates the temperature. Our human activities have had a rapid effect
on climate change. For instance, greenhouse gas is the one of the main factors that has affected

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the climate change boundary. It releases a huge amount of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) into the air. We
have been releasing CO2 into the air for 150 years now. The Carbon dioxide released by these
greenhouse gasses is one of the main pollutant factors that has polluted the earth. These large
quantities of CO2 damage the atmosphere, which causes an increase in sea temperature (National
Geographic), melting the sea ice in the Polar regions and causing a rise in sea level (Hollowed et
al., 2013). These effects have impacted the climate change boundary dramatically. Another major
damage from these greenhouse gasses is that the CO2 released into the air is spreading out into
the ocean, which decreases the level of pH. This is a great threat to the marine organisms and
ecosystem. For example, coral reefs, which many fish species count on for food, are extremely
sensitive to the rapid climate change (Wilson et al., 2010). They get stressed due to the temporal
changes and other factors. That makes them turn white, which is called coral bleaching
(NOAA). This coral bleaching symptoms have caused a habitat reduction for many marine
species (Wilson et al., 2010). People have started to notice the the extreme danger of climate
change to the world. If this continues, we might lose all marine organisms in the future. People
and animals who have depended on fish for survival might face a drastic danger. We will not
only lose marine organisms and their ecosystem, we will lose all that depends on the sea for
survival.

Pollution
Our activities have caused a catastrophic increase in pollution. Pollution is one of the
main reasons for overstepping the climate change boundary, biodiversity loss boundary and
many others planetary boundaries. We have been polluting the world in every possible way . We
have polluted the the air by burning fossil fuel. We have been polluting the ocean by dumping

THE CAUSES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS IN THE MARINE ECOSYSTEM AND ITS

EFFECT ON THE WORLD
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waste and sewage into the rivers and seas. These have already caused drastic changes in our
world. Take agricultural activities as an example. A report has shown that agriculture is
responsible for 50% of water pollution by spreading chemical nutrition enhancers (Islam &
Tanaka, 2004). This is also one of the causes of the coral bleaching, as this chemical nutrition
stresses the coral reefs as I mentioned above (NOAA). Thats one source of pollution. There are
two other major sources that are commonly pointed out. Sewage has affected marine organisms
and their ecosystem the most. For the last 3 decades, sewage has been the largest source of
pollution to marine organisms and the ecosystem (Islam & Tanaka 2004). Sewage increases as
the population increases. A report has shown that the yearly production of sewage effluent of a
population of 800,000 reaches 1.8 108 cubic meters (Islam & Tanaka 2004). Sewage effluent
contains various hazardous substances such as bacteria, toxic chemicals, organic substances,
heavy metals and many other harmful elements (Islam & Tanaka 2004). This highly concentrated
mixture of harmful substances contains up to 4 109 bacteria and 11000 104 viruses per liter
of sewage effluent (Islam & Tanaka 2004). In highly populated cities, enormous loads of sewage
effluent are released into rivers near the city. This hazardous effluent is contagious.Bossart, et al.
(1990) reported that some marine mammals contain some viruses that are contagious across
species.The marine mammals got the viruses from the sewage discharge (Islam & Tanaka 2004).
Marine organisms and fish who are feeding on this contaminated water will consume this
contagious sewage discharge and will face mass extinction (Islam & Tanaka 2004). Dumping
sewage is not only harmful to marine species, but also to us humans. Several reliable sources
have noted that humans who are exposed to this sewage discharge have a high rate of organ
infections (Islam & Tanaka 2004).

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Another major factor is oil spills. Oil spills have been a great threat to marine organisms
and the ecosystem. A report has noted that between 1964 and 1968, the marine environments
were made toxic by a massive load of oil spills due to 78 accidents of oil rigs (Islam & Tanaka
2004). These constant oil spills have endangered the marine organisms and ecosystem. For
example, the high marine biodiversity of 15,419 recorded in Gulf of Mexico has diminished by
10 % (1511) due to oil spills (Campagna et al., 2011). Now, the remaining species in the Gulf of
Mexico are under a special protection by a specialized organization named Mission Blue. All of
these pollution dilemmas are caused by our actions. We must give consideration to these worldly
boundaries before it is too late. If we were to continue ignoring these planetary boundaries, we
might face a mass extinction and a world much like Mars, if not worse.

Overfishing
Fishing has existed since the worlds creation. Some animals practice it as a way of
survival. As humans advance, we have discovered exploration. As humans have been exploring
the ocean, we have been fishing and hunting marine fish. By the 1900s, 16 of marine mammals
had been overfished to a rate of extinction (Jackson 2008). Take the Northern Right Whale as an
example. Their numbers have massively diminished from 10,000 - 15,000 to only 300 (Jackson
2008). Another example is the salmon. Fishing on salmon started many decades ago. A report has
shown that by the end of of 20th century, salmon have reduced more than 99.5% due to
overfishing. There are many fish who face the same fate due to overfishing (Jackson 2008).
These reductions have happened to cod, pollock, haddock, sardine and many other marine fish.
Nowadays, many commercial companies are using innovative fishing methods such as longlining
and seining. These fishing methods catche thousands of fish simultaneously in a matter of

THE CAUSES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS IN THE MARINE ECOSYSTEM AND ITS

EFFECT ON THE WORLD
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seconds. These commercial companies will keep fishing as long as these profitable fish still exist
(Burgess, Polasky & Tilman 2013). The result of constant fishing and exploring hasreduced most
of these marine fish by 80 - 90% (Jackson 2008). Many of these fish are food to other predatory
fish. This means predatory fish who are completely dependent on the overfished marine life will
face starvation. This could cause mass extinction to the marine organisms and ecosystem. This
also could cause starvation to the developing nations who depend on fishing for survival
(Jackson 2008). Overfishing is a serious conundrum and failure to resolve this issue will result in
a mass extinction to many marine and even non-marine ecosystems (Jackson 2008). The ocean
has a massive amount of marine biodiversity. But who would have thought our massive ocean,
which is about 70% of the world, is suffering from overfishing?

conclusion
In conclusion, the biodiversity loss boundary is one of the 3 boundaries that has been
overstepped (Rockstrm et al., 2009). The biodiversity loss boundary is damaged by several
categories. These categories are climate change, pollution, and overfishing. All of these
categories are a result of human activity. We are responsible for overstepping the climate change
boundary by releasing countless tons of CO2 into the air, which severely effects the biodiversity
loss boundary. Because of the fact that all boundaries are connected, exceeding one will have
implications for others (Rockstrm et al., 2009). Releasing CO2 into the air is one of many
sources of pollution. We have been polluting the world by dumping waste, releasing sewage
effluent into the ocean, oil spills and many other extremely harmful sources of pollution. All of
these sources have a severe effect on the biodiversity loss boundary. Not to mention overfishing,
which is still a great threat to the ocean marine organisms and ecosystem. All of these negative
sources are caused by our thirst for money. However, people have started noticing these effects.
Many great organizations have started taking actions. For instance, an organization started by
Dr.Sylvia Earle called Mission Blue has started turning endangered zones into Hope Spots.
These Hope Spots are protected by this amazing organisation. The organization currently has
50 Hope Spots around the world (Mission Blue). However, the striking question is, how will
we go about convincing the world to stop burning fossil fuel, polluting the world and
overfishing with our massively increasing population?

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References

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EFFECT ON THE WORLD
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