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Factoid/2020/04/23

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< Beachapedia:Factoid‎ | 2020‎ | 04


Slightly elevated CO2 levels means fewer complex corals and reduced fish diversity

"Rising carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the consequent changes created through ocean acidification will cause severe ecosystem effects, impacting reef-forming habitats and the associated fish, according to new research... under elevated dissolved CO2 conditions, habitats are dominated by few ephemeral algae. In such conditions, species such as complex corals and canopy-forming macroalgae mostly disappeared. This shift from complex reefs to habitats dominated by opportunistic low-profile algae led to a 45% decrease of fish diversity, with a loss of coral-associated species and a rearrangement of feeding behaviour." - Excerpt from University of Plymouth

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