Starfish, increasingly frequent heat waves could make them disappear forever according to a study.
Le starfish are (and will increasingly be) a victim of global warming, said research presented at the British Ecological Society's Festival of Ecology, conducted by the GEOMAR Helmholtz-Center for Ocean Research in Kiel (Germany).
The research examined some starfish from the Kiel Fjord, which was affected by an increase in water temperatures of 7 ° C years ago. By simulating a temperature rise of 8 degrees, all starfish examined died. A bad omen for the future, when, according to the researchers, fluctuations of this type will be more and more frequent. And the longer the heat waves last, the worse the consequences.
In fact, they found that “the current heat waves of +5 ° C - experienced in the summer months - have negatively influenced the feeding of starfish. If the heatwave was short, the starfish were able to recover, but during prolonged heatwaves, the starfish were unable to recover and lost weight. "
Heat waves are literally frying the oceans, like forest fires
The only positive aspect, so to speak, is that the research in question requires in-depth analysis, scholars want to understand if there are possibilities of adaptation such as to protect the species. For example, starfish may be able to move from surface to deeper waters to protect themselves from heat waves.
SOURCE: British Ecological Society
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