What Affects the Ocean's Ecosystem?

In an ocean ecosystem, everything is interdependent. Micro-organisms are the start of a complex food chain that leads up to the blue whale, the largest animal on the planet. Rocks, plants, currents and water temperature are all critical parts of different habitats that support all forms of ocean life. Many factors can affect an ocean ecosystem; however, the greatest and most detrimental changes have been the result of human activity.

Climate Change

• Carbon dioxide emissions, which are causing a slow and gradual rising of the Earth's temperatures, are also effecting ocean life. Oceans absorb a large amount of the Earth's CO2 and, as a result, the acidity level of that water has risen over time. Greater acidification compromises the ability of many sea animals that use calcium carbonate to form protective shells, which in turn causes a disruption in the food chain. Some scientists also believe that the rising water levels which occur with rising temperatures shift water currents that contain free-flowing plant and animal life that larger animals use as feed. Again, that change has the potential to disrupt the food chain.

Pollution

• Coastal communities have long used oceans as dumping grounds for all types of waste. Some of this pollution, such as toxins from heavy industry have directly killed plants and animals that are part of the marine ecosystem. Other pollutants, such as runoff from homes and farms, introduce chemical fertilizers into the water that create algae blooms on the surface. Large fields of algae deplete the oxygen in the water, block the sunlight to life on lower levels, and may even release toxins that poison fish.

The Fishing Industry

• The commercial fishing industry targets certain species of fish for human consumption. As a result of overfishing, some fish stocks have been weakened or depleted, causing a disruption in the food chain that affects all strata of the ecosystem. Different types of fishing gear, such as bottom trawls that are dragged along the ocean floor, also disrupt and damage critical habitats.

Offshore Drilling

• Offshore drilling for oil and natural gas comes with an inherent risk of accidents and spills that could have potentially devastating effects on an ocean ecosystem. In addition to those threats, offshore drilling rigs often create fields of waste that include lubricants and fluids used on the drills, anti-corrosive chemicals, bleach and other chemical cleaners. Solid wastes such as tools, tubing, pipes and plastics are also found in the water surrounding offshore rigs. These types of pollution affect marine life and knock the surrounding ecosystem off balance.

Noise

• The increase of boating and ship traffic and industrial use of the ocean have ramped up the level of noise in the water. Studies have shown that increased noise affects different species of marine life in a variety of ways--from causing confusion and disorientation in dolphins and whales to inhibiting growth and reproduction of smaller animals. Those changes affect the overall balance of the interrelationships at work in an ocean ecosystem.