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Introduction: (Abiotic Factors of an Ecosystem)
Ocean ecosystems are impacted by abiotic factors in ways that are different from other ecosystems. Everything in an ocean ecosystem is always moving and changing. The most important abiotic factors of ocean ecosystems are light levels, temperature, salinity, density and water movement, and nutrients. They play a rather large impact on the ecosystem. -
Burning of Fossil Fuels
The burning of fossil fuels has greatly effected the climate change in our atmosphere. pH levels are changing rapidly because of this. Us as humans should stop burning as much fossil fuels, because it is slowly killing our planet. The burning of fossil fuels has had an indirect effect on some of the organisms in the ocean also. One example of this would be the sea otter. Burning of fossil fuels has caused pH levels to rise. This chain of events leads to sea urchin dying off. -
Increased Carbon Dioxide
The temperature of the ocean rises as the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases. The wind in the atmosphere produces waves and turbulence that allow the water to take in the carbon dioxide. Oceans basically act as reservoirs ready to take in CO2. Like land plants, oceanic plants take in the CO2 and give off their contaminated oxygen, spreading it to other organisms. If humans were to reduce their carbon footprint, excess carbon dioxide wouldn't spread. -
Dissolved CO2 + Decreased pH Levels
The ocean takes in CO2 and combines it with H2O to form carbonic acid. As carbonic acid is made, the pH level of the ocean decrease and become more acidic. The lower the pH levels get, the more acidic it is. Millions of years ago, the pH levels of the ocean remained around 8.2. In todays atmosphere, research shows it is around 8.1. Although the difference seems to not be drastic, as little as a 0.1 pH decrease hugely affects the organisms in the seas. -
Ocean Acidification
Sea urchins and coral are organisms that get largely influenced by the gradual ocean acidification. Acidity affects the sea urchins because when the ocean becomes excessively acidic, the amount of calcium carbonate lowers. This gives less material for sea animals to form their shells. Coral branches become more brittle and weak over time because of acidification. This is because the warm, acidic water stresses coral and causes them to expel algae living in their tissue. -
Coyotes In the City
A large amount of changes in the ocean have been caused by outside biotic and abiotic factors coming into it. This is also happening in coyotes habitats. They are being forced to adapt to changes in their homes caused by humans, construction, and even the changes in weather and temperature. The burning of fossil fuels done by humans causes the levels of CO2 to rise, hurting the ocean. By humans taking the land of coyotes, coyotes are forced to come into cities where their homes used to be.
