Nemo is in danger. The orange clownfish, which became popular thanks to the Pixar animated film, is becoming increasingly rare in nature, so much so that its species is about to become extinct. This is what is claimed by a group of researchers from the Center for Biological Diversity who has submitted to the attention of the US National Marine Fisheries Service a petition to include it in the Endangered Species Act l (ESA), together with 7 other species of coral reef fish, that is Chromis atripectoralis, Chromis viridis, Dascyllus albisella, Dascyllus reticulatus, Microspathodon, Plectroglyphidodon dickii and Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
Nemo is in danger. The orange clownfish, which became popular thanks to the Pixar animated film, is becoming increasingly rare in nature, so much so that its species is about to die out.
This is what a group of researchers of the Center for Biological Diversity, which he brought to the attention of the American National Marine Fisheries Service una petition to include it inEndangered Species Act (Esa), insieme to the other 7 species of the pesci della barriera corallina, ovvero Chromis atripectoralis, Chromis viridis, Dascyllus albisella, Dascyllus reticulatus, Microspathodon, Plectroglyphidodon dickii and Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus.
Why? Why ocean acidification, or the decrease in the oceanic pH value caused by carbon dioxide of anthropogenic origin, damages hearing, sight and smell, interfering with their ability to hide in the ravines of the coral reef to avoid predators. Levels of predation are 5-9 times higher than they should be. Not only that: ocean acidification and global warming also threaten destroy their habitat, coral reefs, probably the first ecosystems in the world that will disappear entirely, given the pace and intensity of the mass bleaching events. As if all this were not enough, here comes the coup de grace: trade for marine aquariums, also exploded due to the sudden popularity of poor Nemo.
“We risk losing forever the suggestive fish that inspired the film if we do not immediately stop global warming and ocean acidification - explains Shaye Wolf, climate science director for the Center - in a note. Carbon pollution damages these fish and destroys their home, the coral reef. If we want these beautiful animals survive in nature, not just in a movie, we must protect them “. And to do so, inclusion in the Endangered Species Act could be crucial.
“Coral reefs - continues Wolf - are the rainforests of the sea, but carbon pollution is demolishing their biodiversity. The longer we delay in protecting them, with the Endangered Species Act and reducing greenhouse gases that harm reef fish and destroy their homes, the harder it will be. save these unique creatures". In short, if we do not protect the coral reef habitat on which these fish depend, the search for Nemo could become impossible.
Roberta Ragni
