Final answer:
Increasing sea surface temperatures lead to lower dissolved oxygen levels, creating hypoxic conditions that endanger marine life. Combined with ocean acidification from higher atmospheric CO2 levels, these changes threaten marine ecosystems like coral reefs, with significant impacts on biodiversity and the marine food web.
Step-by-step explanation:
Effects of Sea Surface Temperature Increase on Dissolved Oxygen
As sea surface temperatures rise due to global climate change, dissolved oxygen levels in the ocean are predicted to decrease. Warm water holds less dissolved oxygen than cold water. This reduction in oxygen availability can lead to hypoxic conditions, or 'dead zones,' where marine life struggles to survive. Additionally, ocean acidification, resulting from the ocean's absorption of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide, further endangers marine ecosystems. Acidification can make it challenging for many marine organisms, like corals and shellfish, to construct their hard exoskeletons, which are essential for their survival and for maintaining the integrity of reef ecosystems.
As these ecosystems are altered, there are cascading effects on local and global scales. Reefs provide habitat for a large variety of marine species and their decline can lead to reduced biodiversity and fishery collapses. Furthermore, this can also affect the marine food web, impacting species up to and including human fisheries and the communities that rely on them.