BLOG Action Day 2009 - Climate Change Affects Local Marine Species
Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 10:53AM 
When the phrase climate change is heard, many people think about large scale effects such as sea level rise or the reduction in the size and thickness of polar ice caps. These occurrences are significant, however, what about the smaller, often hidden, but no less significant events that can and are occurring in many countries. Often these are overlooked.
KELP FORESTS ON THE DECLINE
One problem happening in Tasmania is the reduction of kelp forests (Macrocystis pyrifera) that used to grace the shores of this island state. When I first dived in Tasmania (2001 thereabouts) you could SCUBA dive through stunningly beautiful kelp forests that were so thick you could loose yourself within them. Despite the aesthetic beauty of the underwater forests, they provided the background template for a thriving marine ecosystem, in addition to being a haven for a variety of marine life, from the small and inconspicuous nudibranch to various fish species and the giant octopus.
Unfortunately this ecosystem is disappearing from Tasmania's coastline at an alarming rate, due to the increase in water temperature. Kelp forests need temperate waters to survive and grow to the size they are (some kelp reaches 20 meters or 60 feet in length). Water temperatures over the last few years have been warmer than usual which has resulted in kelp forests declining in size and abundance.
ENDEMIC SPOTTED HANDFISH THREATENED WITH EXTICTION
The Spotted Handfish (Brachionichthys hirsustus) is found in water up to 8 meters deep (24 feet) in the Greater Hobart area. This species is found nowhere else on planet Earth. Its habitat is the sandy stretches of sea bottom that can be found adjacent to some of the headlands and coves along the Derwent River. Habitat destruction due to construction activities and water temperate fluctuations threaten the extinction of this species. The spotted Handfish can only reproduce within a certain water temperature range and an increase in this range causes reproduction to cease. Contemporary scientific research indicates that although river water temperatures fluctuate, overall temperature has been increasing over the last decade which if continued will threaten the survival of this endemic species.
Often the small animals and less "showey" plants are forgotten when discussing climate change. These are but two of the myrid of flora and fauna species that are being currently affected by climate change globally.