International Journal of Marine Science, 2024, Vol.14, No.1, 57-65 http://www.aquapublisher.com/index.php/ijms 57 Research Article Open Access Adaptation or Extinction: Survival Strategies of Marine Organisms under the Pressure of Climate Change YueZhou Zhejiang Institute of Marine Fisheries, Zhoushan, 316000, China Corresponding author email: 1768126628@qq.com International Journal of Marine Science, 2024, Vol.14, No.1, doi: 10.5376/ijms.2024.14.0008 Received: 13 Feb., 2024 Accepted: 20 Mar., 2024 Published: 16 Apr., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Zhou, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Zhou Y., 2024, Adaptation or extinction: survival strategies of marine organisms under the pressure of climate change, International Journal of Marine Science, 14(1): 57-65 (doi: 10.5376/ijms.2024.14.0008) Abstract With the increasing impact of global climate change on the marine environment, marine organisms are facing unprecedented survival challenges. This study aims to explore the adaptation strategies of marine organisms under the pressure of climate change, analyze the importance of these strategies in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem service functions, and discuss the role and responsibility of humans in promoting this adaptation process. This study comprehensively analyzes the impact of factors such as rising sea surface temperature, rising sea level, ocean acidification, and extreme climate events on marine life, summarizes the main challenges faced by marine life, and reveals that marine life responds to environmental changes through various mechanisms such as species migration, physiological adjustments, and reproductive strategies. This study emphasizes the urgency of maintaining the health and diversity of marine ecosystems in the context of global climate change, providing a scientific basis for developing effective marine conservation strategies. Keywords Marine life; Climate change; Adaptation strategies; Biodiversity; Marine conservation Currently, climate change has become an urgent challenge facing the world, and its current status and trends indicate that the seriousness of the problem is only increasing. Climate change is mainly manifested by the continued rise in the global average temperature, the increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and the accelerated melting of glaciers and ice caps. Scientific research shows that since the industrial revolution, the average temperature of the earth has increased by about 1 °C, and this warming trend has shown signs of accelerating in recent decades (Jones, 2023). This change is mainly due to increased concentrations of greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide , methane and nitrous oxide ) caused by human activities. As one of the largest life support systems on Earth, marine ecosystems are facing unprecedented challenges. These challenges stem from the superimposed effects of multiple human activities and global climate change, which have had a profound impact on the biodiversity, ecological balance and ecological services provided by the ocean. Rising sea temperatures caused by climate change are one of the major threats to marine ecosystems. Rising sea temperatures have led to frequent coral bleaching, which not only affects the survival of thousands of species of organisms in coral reef ecosystems, but also destroys the natural protective barrier function provided by coral reefs to coastal areas. The increase in seawater acidity due to the increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is affecting the calcification process of marine organisms, including corals, shells, and certain plankton, threatening the foundation of the entire marine food chain (Sun et al., 2023). Faced with these challenges, the resilience of marine ecosystems is being severely tested. The loss of marine biodiversity and the degradation of ecological functions not only affect the health and stability of the ocean itself, but also affect the well-being of human society, including food security, economic development, and cultural value. Therefore, strengthening the protection and management of marine ecosystems, reducing anthropogenic pressure, and coping with the impacts of climate change are of great significance to maintaining global ecological balance and promoting sustainable development.
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