Wadden Sea under threat How climate change is affecting a natural paradise
Global warming is changing the habitat of the Wadden Sea.
Image: dpa (Archivbild)
The seawater in the mudflats is warming particularly quickly.
Image: dpa (Archivbild)
Global warming in the Wadden Sea also has consequences for humans
Image: dpa (Archvibild)
The mudflats provide a habitat for numerous animals.
Image: dpa (Archivbild)
Global warming is changing the habitat of the Wadden Sea.
Image: dpa (Archivbild)
The seawater in the mudflats is warming particularly quickly.
Image: dpa (Archivbild)
Global warming in the Wadden Sea also has consequences for humans
Image: dpa (Archvibild)
The mudflats provide a habitat for numerous animals.
Image: dpa (Archivbild)
The sea level is rising, as is the temperature of the North Sea. These changes have a strong impact on the habitats with consequences for the flora and fauna in the Wadden Sea.
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- Rapidly rising temperatures and rising sea levels are increasingly affecting the Wadden Sea.
- This is the result of a comprehensive report by around 30 researchers from the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI).
- Some species, such as cod, are particularly affected by the changes and are also suffering from overexploitation.
- In the course of climate change, certain fish species are migrating poleward, while bottom-dwelling species are retreating to deeper and colder waters.
The Wadden Sea is changing at a record pace due to climate change. This is the result of a comprehensive report by around 30 researchers from the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI).
Climate change is altering a habitat in its entirety at an unprecedented speed, explain co-first author Christian Buschbaum and co-first author Lisa Shama, who work at the AWI Wadden Sea Station List on the island of Sylt.
"Climate change is affecting all levels of the Wadden Sea," says Buschbaum. Increasing temperatures and rising sea levels are changing the shape of the coast and the transport of sediments.
Almost 2 degrees in 60 years
"The Wadden Sea in the south-eastern North Sea is warming faster than many other temperate coastal areas, with the surface temperature of seawater rising by almost 2 degrees in the last 60 years, which is almost twice the average global rise of the oceans," the researchers write in their report in the journal "Marine Biodiversity". It was published on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the AWI Wadden Sea Station.
According to the AWI, mild winters and very warm summer temperatures have a major impact on the ecosystem. In particular, heatwaves with temperatures three to five degrees above average are becoming more frequent and lasting longer. This affects species in the water and on the sea floor.
Consequences for the animal world
Some species, such as cod, are particularly affected by the changes and are also suffering from overexploitation. Buschbaum explained: "We are also observing a significant increase in introduced, warmth-loving species."
Although these have not yet threatened any native organisms, they have led to a change in the habitat. "Huge reefs of Pacific oysters and hectare-sized underwater forests, formed by algae from the Far East, can be seen immediately by anyone walking on the mudflats," said the researcher.
Adaptations to changing living conditions
To a certain extent, Wadden Sea organisms can adapt their behavior and appearance in response to direct environmental stimuli, explained evolutionary biologist Shama.
For example, they are active at different times or their growth rate changes. It is also possible that they have adapted their reproduction with more offspring to compensate for possible losses due to heat.
Importance of the Wadden Sea
The Wadden Sea is of great importance for many fish and bird species such as herring, oystercatchers and knots, according to the AWI. They use the area for at least one phase of their life cycle. For example, it serves as a nursery and feeding ground and offers young fish protection from predators.
In the course of climate change, however, certain fish species are migrating polewards, while bottom-dwelling species are retreating to deeper and colder waters.
Consequences for humans
The change also has consequences for humans, as Buschbaum and Shama explain. Coastal protection measures and tourism concepts need to be adapted to changing conditions.