Mass extinction threat "significant" in oceans

A scubadiver looks over a pristine Red Sea reef, one of the many marine areas threatened with extinction by a host of factors, a panel of scientists has found. / iStockphoto

The threats of over-fishing and to the world's fragile coral reefs have long been well documented, but now a panel of scientists say the threats to marine life are far worse than previously imagined.

The International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO) convened a self-described "first inter-disciplinary international meeting of marine scientists of its kind" recently, and they have released a report claiming "multiple ocean stresses threaten globally significant marine extinction."

Dr. Alex Rogers, scientific director of IPSO, said in a press release: "The findings are shocking. As we considered the cumulative effect of what humankind does to the ocean the implications became far worse than we had individually realized."

Study: Sea level rising at "unprecedented" pace

The group's report focuses on four case studies. The first involves the potentially deadly trio of factors -- warming, acidification and anoxia -- affecting today's oceans. The second involved the disappearing coral reefs around the world. The third looked at the problem of pollution in the ocean. The fourth focused on the notoriously bad problem of overfishing.

In the first case study, the report concludes that "Most, if not all, of the five global mass extinctions in Earth's history carry the fingerprints of the main symptoms of...global warming, ocean acidification and anoxia or lack of oxygen. It is these three factors -- the 'deadly trio' -- which are present in the ocean today. In fact, (the situation) is unprecedented in the Earth's history because of the high rate and speed of change."

In the case of coral reefs, the report concludes that there exist "multiple threats (that) reefs are facing, that are now acting together to have a greater impact than if they were occurring on their own. This suggests that existing scientific projections of how coral reefs will respond to global warming have been highly conservative and must now be modified."

Pollution in the oceans is not a new concern to scientists, but the panel discovered that there is currently "a wide range of novel chemicals now being found in marine ecosystems...suspected to be harmful to marine life."

As for overfishing, there are already examples of humans nearly wiping out entire species due to their popularity on the dinner table. In the case of a fish called Chinese bahaba, "It has taken less than seventy years for this giant fish to become critically endangered after it was first described by scientists in the 1930s."

The group of scientists concluded that "urgent and unequivocal action" must be taken "to halt further declines in ocean health."

[freewillybird]

it's the darn phrase "be fruitful and multiply" in the bible, koran, talmud, book of mormon etc etc that will certainly lead to armegeddon. Mercury in fish, ocean levels rise, elephants poached to extinction, crusades and genocides.
7 billion people sullying their own home.
It is ironic that the imperative in the book of genesis causes the immense suffering of the book of revelation.
no doubt all part of gods plan.....

[Defenseman61913]

Religion is stupid period, but most nuts can't even quote a verse, much less put on a rubber.

[retm-w]

What about the Asian carp that Louisiana imported to clean their ponds, then turned them loose in the rivers. Now they threaten game fish in the rivers all the way up to the Great Lakes.

[meboard]

by RET-ABNRGR-CSM June 22, 2011 10:43 AM EDT
What's a "jazzy"? You know I don't know the gay lingo

--

You haven't seen ads for a "jazzy" motorized chair for the walking impaired? (Being a trapped lesbian, I would think you WOULD know the lingo...?)

[meboard]

by RET-ABNRGR-CSM June 22, 2011 10:40 AM EDT
Whoa -- Struck a nerve did I "sheboard"
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And just what the heck are you doing on-line at this hour. I thought you'd be out earning tax money so we can save the oceans? You no workeee....we no saveeeeee!

[meboard]

by RET-ABNRGR-CSM June 22, 2011 9:13 AM EDT

I also told him about you claiming to be a real female when in fact I discoverd you were really a crossdressing trans-sexual!
---

Retarded-Abnormal Park Ranger-Commanding Silly Monkeys,

I never claimed to be a female...that was your warped twisted mind playing tricks on you (again...)...and I don't wear dresses, nor am I trans-sexual (although you obviously have a thing for tranies). That being said...was your shrink able to convince you to have a sex change since you've told us you're a lesbian trapped in a "man's" body? That's the first step in getting you well adjusted. Don't worry about the Monkey General part in my movie...I can adjust (can you?).

[meboard]

Oh and on the anger management thing...glad you got a hold of that issue (maybe?). A person of your advanced age should not be getting overly excited. Could lead to a stroke or hart attack (if you HAVE a hart?). Question: Do they make a device so you can take a jazzy with you while you peddle your bicycle up to Rolling Blunder?

[Defenseman61913]

*heart (so many illiterate idiots in this thread)

[WeHappyFew]

The damage is there. That is undisputed rather like satellite imaging of the South American rain forests.
The world will keep turning for a few billion years what ever we do to it. If we choose to make it an ecological unpleasant and climatically difficult place for our species to inhabit, so be it. Whole eco systems have been created and wiped out many times over. The earth will survive even if we do not.

[Defenseman61913]

Way to be both uneducated AND apathetic.

[bajajohn1]

Within our very species, many exist who will prefer personal profit over the survival of the many.

[noloyalisti]

If they are even close to being right, the human race is very close to extinction as well. Because we literally live on the oceans.

I too am completely baffled about just how brainwashed and stupid people are to ignore the facts and science. It is like those people think they are above reality. Man are we toast!

[stn_sage]

I don't doubt what Dr. Rogers is saying is true!
But, the real problem is...Congress, the President, and the SC,
simply, don't give a _amn!
If they did, then you'd see them taking appropriate actions to
correct the problems, but they NEVER do!
THAT, should speak volumes ladies and gentlemen!
Evidently, because they have reserved seating in the underground bases, THEY don't care how bad it gets 'topside'!
That's nice for them, but it doesn't help the rest of us, now,
does it?!

[bajajohn1]

What this President proposes on the environment, this Congress usually opposes.

[noloyalisti]

Oh no, none of this is caused by man, it's just natural. Maybe they are right and the creator is just trying to get rid of the awful species of man in order to save the earth and it's other residents.

[Defenseman61913]

don't reproduce please.