Ocean Dead Zones May Be Worse Than Thought
Oxygen-starved ocean dead zones may be more widespread than thought.
Spanish researchers found that many species die off at oxygen levels well above what is now considered uninhabitable. The new study suggests that the extent of dead zones in coastal areas that support fishing industries is greater than previously known.
"The dead zones are occurring in areas that are very productive fishing grounds," said Diaz. "Everything is pointing towards a more desperate situation in all aquatic systems, freshwater and marine. That's pretty clear. People should be worried, all over the world."
Images: Above, the Gulf of Mexico dead zone, from NASA; at right, organism hypoxia thresholds and the chronological increase of hypoxic areas, from PNAS. To see dead zones in Google Earth or Google Maps, visit Robert Diaz' website.
clipped from: blog.wired.com 