Effect of Global Warming on Mollusc Species Mediterranean

As per a recent study, Marine molluscs, which comprises various marine species, have collapsed in some parts of the eastern Mediterranean. The reason behind this decrease in the population of Marine molluscs in the area is the rising temperature of the water.

Key Points

• Due to global warming, the temperature of the water is continuously increasing and many marine organisms are unable to adapt to changing temperatures. Because of the change in temperature or environment, the species either migrate to cooler water areas or die.
• The same phenomenon has occurred in the eastern Mediterranean.
• A research team led by the University of Vienna’s Paolo G Albano pointed out the collapse in the Marine molluscs population in the eastern Mediterranean as an effect of climate change on biodiversity.
• The research team investigated the extinction of marine molluscs like mussels and snails in the eastern Mediterranean.
• The team surveyed the Israeli shelves in the region. As per the study, the area has seen an increase of around 3 degrees Celsius temperature between the years 1980 and 2013.
• Also, the average temperature in the area is 32 degrees Celsius in summers.
• The research team collected more than 100 samples from the seafloor to find the characteristics of local mollusc populations — present species, their numbers, etc.
• After this, the data related to characteristics, numbers were compared to historical data.
• As a result, it was found that only around 12% of the shallow-sediment molluscs found in the historical records are still present today.
• The number of molluscs species on rocky reefs is only 5%.
• Many other factors have also contributed to the decrease of the species like pollution and the pressures from invasive species.

The findings of the study were published in the Journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.