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Maximizing sea life's ability to reduce atmospheric carbon may help combat climate change

Date:
January 17, 2016
Source:
Wiley
Summary:
New research on West Antarctic seabed life reveals that the remote region of the South Orkney Islands is a carbon sink hotspot. The findings suggest that this recently designated (and world's first) entirely high seas marine protected area may be a powerful natural ally in combating rising carbon dioxide as sea ice melts.
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New research on West Antarctic seabed life reveals that the remote region of the South Orkney Islands is a carbon sink hotspot. The findings suggest that this recently designated (and world's first) entirely high seas marine protected area may be a powerful natural ally in combating rising CO2 as sea ice melts.

"There has been a cascade of rising atmospheric CO2 driving warming, reducing sea ice, leading to longer micro-algal blooms--which means longer meal times for animals, which are growing more," said Dr. David Barnes, senior author of the Global Change Biology study. The recently discovered polar seabed carbon gains remove carbon from cycling and represent a key negative feedback working against climate change.

This new science, which was conducted with Darwin Initiative funding, suggests that researchers should investigate whether maximizing natural carbon capture by seabed life could help reduce global CO2.

 

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Materials provided by Wiley. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

  1. David K. A. Barnes, Louise Ireland, Oliver T. Hogg, Simon Morley, Peter Enderlein, Chester J. Sands. Why is the South Orkney Island shelf (the world's first high seas marine protected area) a carbon immobilization hotspot? Global Change Biology, 2015; DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13157

Cite This Page:

Wiley. "Maximizing sea life's ability to reduce atmospheric carbon may help combat climate change." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 17 January 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160113162458.htm>.
Wiley. (2016, January 17). Maximizing sea life's ability to reduce atmospheric carbon may help combat climate change. ScienceDaily. Retrieved August 24, 2025 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160113162458.htm
Wiley. "Maximizing sea life's ability to reduce atmospheric carbon may help combat climate change." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160113162458.htm (accessed August 24, 2025).

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