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Ocean Fertilization Could Produce Toxic Effects Up the Food Chain
Ideas involving global-scale geoengineering projects aimed at sucking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere have already faced their share of criticism, but new research on one such idea, ocean iron fertilization, suggests yet another question: Do we want to geoengineer flocks of killer birds run amok -- the kind made famous by Alfred Hitchcock?
This is clearly taking things to extremes, but a study published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showed that seeding the ocean with iron results in blooms of tiny organisms called phytoplankton that harbor high levels of a toxin known as domoic acid. Although harmless to the phytoplankton—and in fact, it helps them out-compete other species—domoic acid eventually finds its way into birds and mammals, where it accumulates in the brain and can cause dizziness, disorientation and eventually death.
It has long been speculated that the mass die-off of sea birds that Hitchcock witnessed along the California coast, inspiring his 1963 classic movie, could have been the result of just such a phytoplankton bloom and resultant domoic acid poisoning among the birds.
“I worry about using the ocean as a technical solution for human behavior,” said the study’s lead author, Charles Trick, of the University of Western Ontario. “I think it’s a slippery slope and not a very wise one.”
The idea of iron fertilization as a way of soaking up the excess CO2 in the atmosphere dates from the late 1980s, when oceanographer John Martin famously quipped “Give me a half tanker of iron, and I will give you an ice age.” Adding iron to the ocean can stimulate the rapid bloom of algae, and these tiny organisms can absorb CO2.
Such blooms happen naturally along coastlines, but Trick said it had previously been assumed that the types of organisms present farther out in the open ocean would not build up the toxins after iron fertilization. In his study, which he stressed was a collaboration between several toxicologists and oceanographers, the phytoplankton genus Pseudonitzschia in what are known as high-nitrate, low-cholorophyll waters in the open ocean unexpectedly produced the same high levels of domoic acid seen along shorelines.
“I hope this is just a reminder,” Trick said. “No one is going to die from the toxins formed in these blooms, this is not a human health issue. It really is a scientific and social concern about how we make decisions to solve our problems.”
Opponents of geoengineering schemes point to the immense complexity of ocean and atmospheric systems on the global scale, and that we simply have no way of knowing the way those systems will react to new inputs. This study highlighted one previously discussed concern, in that the Pseudonitzschia organisms absorbed the iron so well that they took it away from other organisms that also need the nutrients.
“Its kind of like iron piracy,” Trick said. “The process actively selects against other species. Its not that they outgrow other species—they actually don’t grow that fast—what happens is they keep the other ones from being able to grow by starving them.”
Still, some think iron is a key part of slowing the steady progress of human-caused climate change. A recent study published in Nature Geoscience indicated for the first time that iron flowing out of undersea volcanoes is responsible for as much as 15 percent of the total carbon storage in the Southern Ocean. This, of course, is a natural process and one that already fits into the global ocean system.
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I am exceedingly glad to Bed Frames learn that the research communities are at work and could prove toxic effects on food due to this experiment. It is a resourceful article. Thanks Übersetzung Italienisch Deutsch
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I think that geoengineering is hazardous. First we have to massive reduce the CO2 output.
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geoeingeneering: already an industry?
Well, there've been reports on organizations and companies doing some commercial geoengineering of sorts, e.g. Climos. Not so sure whether the time is ripe, but articles like this certainly help to raise awareness on the CO2 and environmental issues.
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Opponents of geoengineering
Opponents of geoengineering schemes point to the immense complexity of ocean and atmospheric systems on the global scale, and that we simply have no way of knowing the way those systems will react to watches new inputs. This study highlighted one previously discussed concern, in that the Pseudonitzschia organisms absorbed the iron so well that they took it away from other organisms that also need the nutrients.
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small doubt
Nature Geoscience indicated for the first time that iron flowing out of undersea volcanoes is responsible for as much as 15 percent of the total carbon storage in the Southern Ocean. This, of course, is a natural process and one that already fits into the global ocean system.
this is still happening!!
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Advantageously, the article is actually the greatest on this worthy topic "Ocean Fertilization Could Produce Toxic Effects Up the Food Chain". I concur with your conclusions and will eagerly look forward to your coming updates. Saying thanks will not just be enough, for the extraordinary clarity in your writing. I will directly grab your rss feed to stay abreast of any updates. placement papers
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"Engineering of this nature
"Engineering of this nature still seems a little immature to try on the oceans as they do make up seventy percent of the earth." thats really true. Übersetzungsagentur
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It is an apt discussion about the ocean fertilization could produce toxic effects food chain. I am exceedingly glad to learn that the research communities are at work and could prove toxic effects on food due to this experiment. It is a resourceful article. Thanks. Acai Max Cleanse
Ocean
Alfred Hitchcock was a great director. The "World's Oceans" from Steve Jenner was one of the best books ever.
"Yes, the research should be going on till when we can say that this iron fertilization would not affect the ocean ecosystem. As short-sightedness in this matter can result in consequences like Yellow stone park." thats very important.
The oceans are very wounderful.
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It is an apt discussion about
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Engineering of this nature
Engineering of this nature still seems a little immature to try on the oceans as they do make up seventy percent of the earth. I have no doubt that this type this type of endeavor will eventually be something that will ultimately benefit earth; However its something that should be done carefully. http://www.superapprentice.com. Its fortunate that people with the know how are checking it out.
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Oops!
How does one say "Oops!" in a scientifically acceptable fashion after having provoked Nature into an irreversable, toxic chain reaction? RE:
Whaley said “I think that’s an extremely unscientific point of view. It says that since we can never know the answers, it’s probably not worth even trying to find out.”
Maybe we don't want to find out by experimenting on the entire planet! How about limiting this to SeaWorld before messing with an actual ocean?
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