Sea butterflies are threatened by climate change

Sea butterflies are threatened by climate change

Subject: Environment

Section: Climate Change

Context: Ocean acidification more dangerous for shelled, smaller sea butterflies but can impact entire ocean food web.

More on the News:

• The stunning sea butterflies, a suborder of sea snails, are tiny creatures that play a big role in the marine ecosystem. But the smallest species in this group found in the Southern Ocean are extremely vulnerable to climate change and their population is shrinking in a warming world, according to a new study.
• The shelled pteropods (group of free-swimming sea snails) live at or very close to the ocean surface. Like snails, they have muscular feet that they use as flappers to swim around in water, instead of glide on solid surface.
• As the sea absorbs an increasing quantity of carbon dioxide (CO2) that turns the water more acidic, the thin outer casing, or the ‘homes’ of these small sea butterflies, dissolve. This leaves them exposed, making it difficult for these delicate species to survive.
• While these beautiful creatures dying out are bad news in itself, their reduced population also impacts larger pteropods and other oceanic creatures that feed on them. The entire underwater food chain of the seas surrounding Antarctica may suffer as a ripple effect.
• The ocean is the most acidic in winter because cooler water absorbs more CO2. This means, the winter months are the most dangerous for the shelled sea butterflies.

Sea Butterflies:

• Sea butterflies, also known as pteropods, are a group of small marine gastropod mollusks that belong to the family Thecosomata. They are notable for their unique shell structure and their role in marine ecosystems.
• Sea butterflies are planktonic organisms characterized by a distinct shell structure. Their shells are delicate, translucent, and often have a wing-like shape, resembling a butterfly. The shells are secreted by the sea butterflies themselves and provide protection for their soft bodies.
• Sea butterflies are found in oceans around the world, from polar to tropical regions. They are most abundant in the upper layers of the ocean, particularly in areas with high productivity and concentrations of plankton.
• Sea butterflies are herbivorous organisms that feed primarily on phytoplankton, microscopic plants found in the ocean. They use a specialized feeding apparatus called a “radula” to scrape and consume the phytoplankton. In turn, they serve as an important link in the marine food chain, transferring energy from primary producers to higher trophic levels.
• Sea butterflies play a significant role in the global carbon cycle. They incorporate calcium carbonate into their shells through a process known as calcification.
• Sea butterflies are an important food source for various marine organisms, including fish, seabirds, and whales. Their abundance and distribution can influence the distribution and abundance of other species within the marine food web. Changes in sea butterfly populations can have cascading effects throughout the ecosystem.

Ocean acidification: https://optimizeias.com/climate-change-and-oceans/