Mussels will become unbearable in the next 100 years
According to climatologist forecasts, over the next century, the sea temperature will increase. This circumstance will lead to serious changes in the natural habitat of marine animals. In addition, it will fall out more precipitation, which will entail a decrease in salt concentration in the upper layers of water. According to scientists, all this will significantly affect the inhabable ocean microscopic communities of bacteria and plankton, which, in turn, will have an impact on the species standing above in the food chain. As expected, future conditions will benefit by pathogenic bacteria and plankton species that produce various toxins. Toxins will accumulate in mollusks, the use of which in food will be accompanied by risks for a person.
During his study, scientists from the University of Gothenburg studied how to change the climate can affect the industry in the southwest of India for the cultivation of green mussels. Working on the coast of the city of Mangalor, they grown mussels in water with high temperatures and low salt content, and also exposed them to producing toxins of bacteria and plankton. It turned out that the combination of all these factors adversely affects the health of mussels.
Scientists hope that the results obtained will push the government of different countries to implement long-term monitoring programs for molluscs. In the plans of researchers – to continue working in a given direction in order to determine whether the climatic changes will have a similar effect on the life of oysters and shrimp populations.
Previously conducted studies confirmed that if the emissions of carbon dioxide (the result of human activity) will go the same pace as now, until the end of the century, the mussels and starfiers can completely disappear. According to scientists, only oysters have chances of survival, reports the publication "around the world".
