South Africa is surrounded by three major oceans namely the Atlantic, the Indian and the Southern Ocean. The west and east coast of South Africa are geographically and oceanographically distinct, supporting a wide variety of marine life. The west coast of South Africa is characterised by the relatively cold, slow-moving Benguela Current. The marine life along the west coast is adapted to colder temperatures. The waters of the west coast are nutrient-rich and support a large abundance of fish. The west coast is also characterised by upwelling, which brings nutrient-rich waters from deeper ocean layers to the ocean surface. This drives higher productivity in the marine life but may also result in harmful algal blooms occurring. The east coast
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Temperature is important for the survival of many marine species and even the slightest change in ocean temperature could have a drastic effect on marine life. For instance, the spawning and migration patterns of several marine organisms such as the west coast rock lobster, Jasus lalandii (Pollock and De Beyers, 1981) are affected by temperature changes within the ocean. The understanding of the impacts of temperature on, for example, the west coast rock lobster is vital for fishing industries and subsistence fisheries as they provide an income to many people in South Africa. Hiscock et al. (2004) showed that temperature affects the survival of the larvae rock lobster and Hughes et al. (2008) showed that an increase in sea temperature of just 1°C can result in the bleaching of coral reefs. These studies highlight the importance of temperature in the marine environment. The survival of fish larvae and coral reefs is not only extremely vital for the survival of the entire marine ecosystem but is extremely important to humans. The larvae eventually grow into larger organisms which can be consumed by organisms found higher trophic levels in the food web. It is estimated that in South Africa alone, there are approximately 500,000 people involved in the fishing industry, either recreationally or commercially (WWF, …show more content…
Several marine species have evolved various physiological adaptations such as osmoregulation that counteract high salinity regions. Therefore, any changes in salinity in areas of the ocean could have a drastic impact on the marine organisms within, resulting in changes in behaviour and possible fatality. Like temperature, salinity has an impact on the migration patterns of marine animals. These animals have grown accustomed to a certain salinity level, so if there is any variability in salinity, it could alter regional distributions of organisms they tend to leave the area if they can do so (in other words if they are not sessile organisms) to find their optimal climate elsewhere. Baggerman (2011) illustrated this when he showed that salinity changes affected the migration patterns of four different species of Salmon (e.g. Atractoscion aequidens and Salmo
Temperature is important for the survival of many marine species and even the slightest change in ocean temperature could have a drastic effect on marine life. For instance, the spawning and migration patterns of several marine organisms such as the west coast rock lobster, Jasus lalandii (Pollock and De Beyers, 1981) are affected by temperature changes within the ocean. The understanding of the impacts of temperature on, for example, the west coast rock lobster is vital for fishing industries and subsistence fisheries as they provide an income to many people in South Africa. Hiscock et al. (2004) showed that temperature affects the survival of the larvae rock lobster and Hughes et al. (2008) showed that an increase in sea temperature of just 1°C can result in the bleaching of coral reefs. These studies highlight the importance of temperature in the marine environment. The survival of fish larvae and coral reefs is not only extremely vital for the survival of the entire marine ecosystem but is extremely important to humans. The larvae eventually grow into larger organisms which can be consumed by organisms found higher trophic levels in the food web. It is estimated that in South Africa alone, there are approximately 500,000 people involved in the fishing industry, either recreationally or commercially (WWF, …show more content…
Several marine species have evolved various physiological adaptations such as osmoregulation that counteract high salinity regions. Therefore, any changes in salinity in areas of the ocean could have a drastic impact on the marine organisms within, resulting in changes in behaviour and possible fatality. Like temperature, salinity has an impact on the migration patterns of marine animals. These animals have grown accustomed to a certain salinity level, so if there is any variability in salinity, it could alter regional distributions of organisms they tend to leave the area if they can do so (in other words if they are not sessile organisms) to find their optimal climate elsewhere. Baggerman (2011) illustrated this when he showed that salinity changes affected the migration patterns of four different species of Salmon (e.g. Atractoscion aequidens and Salmo