Galapagos: change in temperature will influence the appetite of marine animals

Ecuadornews:

The temperature of the sea will affect the food webs of theGalapagos Islands. This according to a study developed in the archipelago, byJohn Bruno, of the University of North Carolina and the Ecuadorian MargaritaBrandt, of the San Francisco University of Quito.

This investigation was carried out in coordination with the Directorate of the Galapagos National Park. Based on mathematical models, used worldwide, and in previous scientific studies that predict that by the end of this century the sea temperature will rise more than 3 ° C on the planet.

Therefore, Bruno revealed that water warming will fundamentallychange the way marine food webs work, accelerating animal movements andintensifying interactions between species.

“The inhabitants of the sea, for the most part, are cold-blooded, the temperature of their body is regulated by the temperature of the water that surrounds them. The colder the water, the colder your bodies get and your metabolism is slower. But when their bodies heat up, their metabolism speeds up, so they breathe faster and require more food to survive, “he explained.

Brandt, for his part, explained that sea urchins need more seaweed in warmer waters to satisfy their hunger, while in lower temperatures they do it in a normal way.

Experts agree that the same would happen to a wide range of creatures, including marine iguanas, fish and sea turtles.

This higher caloric demand by the species may not be satisfied bythe ecosystem, considering that it has a limit for the amount of animals it cansustain. (I)

Source: https://www.expreso.ec/actualidad/galapagos-temperatura-mar-especies-animale-apetito-XI2468572