Warming water temperatures in Virginia are changing aquatic life as we know it

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Impact of Warming Water Temperatures in Virginia

Introduction

Scientists in Virginia are observing a significant increase in water temperatures across various ecosystems, including freshwater streams, rivers, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean. This rise in temperature is attributed to global climate change and localized environmental changes, such as deforestation along water bodies and reduced freshwater flow.

Impacts on Ecosystems

The warming water temperatures in Virginia have profound effects on ecosystems. The delicate balance of species that inhabit these water bodies is at risk due to sustained higher temperatures. This disruption can have cascading effects on the entire ecosystem.

Shift in Spawning Runs

A study conducted by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science reveals that the timing of peak spawning runs for American shad and river herring in Virginia’s rivers and streams has shifted. Compared to 1998 when the study began, the peak spawning runs now occur approximately three weeks earlier. Eric Hilton, the principal investigator of the monitoring program, jokes that his team may have to start monitoring for spring spawning runs during Christmas.

Concerns for Underwater Life

The shift in the timing of American shad and river herring runs raises concerns about the changing underwater life in Virginia. Historically, the arrival of these species marked the end of winter for Indigenous tribes and later colonists. This shift indicates a significant alteration in aquatic life as we know it.

Conclusion

The warming water temperatures in Virginia, driven by global climate change and local environmental changes, pose a threat to the delicate balance of ecosystems. The shift in the timing of spawning runs for American shad and river herring further highlights the need to address these challenges and work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Source

Read more on VirginiaMercury.com

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Copyright

Copyright 2024 WWBT. All rights reserved.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning
   • Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population
   • Indicator 13.3.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning into primary, secondary, and tertiary curricula

2. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
   • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
   • Indicator 14.1.1: Index of coastal eutrophication and floating plastic debris density
   • Indicator 14.2.1: Proportion of national exclusive economic zones managed using ecosystem-based approaches

Analysis of the Article

The article discusses the significant warming of water temperatures in Virginia, which is attributed to global climate change and localized changes in the environment. These issues are connected to SDG 13: Climate Action, which aims to combat climate change and its impacts. The rising water temperatures have “huge cascading effects on ecosystems,” highlighting the need to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity (Target 13.1) and improve education and awareness on climate change (Target 13.3).

Furthermore, the changing water temperatures affect aquatic life, indicating a connection to SDG 14: Life Below Water. The article mentions the shift in the timing of American shad and river herring runs, which raises concerns about the changing underwater life. This aligns with Target 14.2, which focuses on sustainably managing and protecting marine and coastal ecosystems.

Although the article does not explicitly mention indicators, we can infer some potential indicators based on the information provided. For Target 13.1, an indicator could be the number of species affected by the changing water temperatures. For Target 13.3, an indicator could be the number of educational programs or initiatives implemented to raise awareness about climate change impacts on aquatic ecosystems. For Target 14.2, an indicator could be the proportion of marine species populations affected by the changing timing of spawning runs.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: 12onyourside.com

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