From the Famous National Lampoon Cover department:
Leaving microbes out of climate change conversation has major consequences, experts warn
From the University of New South Wales (home of the Ship of Fools)
More than 30 microbiologists from 9 countries have issued a warning to humanity – they are calling for the world to stop ignoring an ‘unseen majority’ in Earth’s biodiversity and ecosystem when addressing climate change.
‘Scientist’s warning to humanity: microorganisms and climate change’ was published today in the journal Nature Reviews Microbiology. Professor Rick Cavicchioli, microbiologist at the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences at UNSW Sydney, has led the global effort.
With their statement, the researchers are hoping to raise awareness both for how microbes can influence climate change and how they will be impacted by it – calling for including microbes in climate change research, increasing the use of research involving innovative technologies, and improving education in classrooms.
“Micro-organisms, which include bacteria and viruses, are the lifeforms that you don’t see on the conservation websites,” says Professor Cavicchioli.
“They support the existence of all higher lifeforms and are critically important in regulating climate change.
“However, they are rarely the focus of climate change studies and not considered in policy development.”
Professor Cavicchioli calls microbes the ‘unseen majority’ of lifeforms on earth, playing critical functions in animal and human health, agriculture, the global food web and industry.
For example, the Census of Marine Life estimates that 90% of the ocean’s total biomass is microbial. In our oceans, marine lifeforms called phytoplankton take light energy from the sun and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as much as plants. The tiny phytoplankton form the beginning of the ocean food web, feeding krill populations that then feed fish, sea birds and large mammals such as whales.
Sea ice algae thrive in sea ice ‘houses’. If global warming trends continue, the melting sea ice has a downstream effect on the sea ice algae, which means a diminished ocean food web.
“Climate change is literally starving ocean life,” says Professor Cavicchioli.
Beyond the ocean, microbes are also critical to terrestrial environments, agriculture and disease.
“In terrestrial environments, microbes release a range of important greenhouse gases to the atmosphere (carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide), and climate change is causing these emissions to increase,” Professor Cavicchioli says.
“Farming ruminant animals releases vast quantities of methane from the microbes living in their rumen – so decisions about global farming practices need to consider these consequences.
“And lastly, climate change worsens the impact of pathogenic microbes on animals (including humans) and plants – that’s because climate change is stressing native life, making it easier for pathogens to cause disease.
“Climate change also expands the number and geographic range of vectors (such as mosquitos) that carry pathogens. The end result is the increased spread of disease, and serious threats to global food supplies.”
Greater commitment to microbe-based research needed
In their statement, the scientists call on researchers, institutions and governments to commit to greater microbial recognition to mitigate climate change.
“The statement emphasises the need to investigate microbial responses to climate change and to include microbe-based research during the development of policy and management decisions,” says Professor Cavicchioli.
Additionally, climate change research that links biological processes to global geophysical and climate processes should have a much bigger focus on microbial processes.
“This goes to the heart of climate change, so if micro-organisms aren’t considered effectively it means models cannot be generated properly and predictions could be inaccurate,” says Professor Cavicchioli.
“Decisions that are made now impact on humans and other forms of life, so if you don’t take into account the microbial world, you’re missing a very big component of the equation.”
Professor Cavicchioli says that microbiologists are also working on developing resources that will be made available for teachers to educate students on the importance of microbes.
“If that literacy is there, that means people will have a much better capacity to engage with things to do with microbiology and understand the ramifications and importance of microbes.”
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Microbiologists can endorse the researchers’ warning by becoming a signatory here: https://www.babs.unsw.edu.au/research/microbiologists-warning-humanity
Oh, all the microbes live on the ice — none in the water ’cause they’d drown.
/sarc
Sounds to me like they are looking for some more research money.
“Climate change is literally starving ocean life,” says Professor Cavicchioli.
No, it literally is not. The Alarmist narrative of Climate Change itself is literally, a myth, and the claim that said myth is “literally starving ocean life” is literally moronic.
“…..take action to achieve the survival of all species by averting the continuing environmental and climate change crisis.”
They forget that we formed schools of medicine, microbiology (bacteriology first) and parasitology to help control the darn things. DNA will take over the universe if we’re not careful.
Was the warning letter drafted before or after the “study” started?
‘Scientist’s warning to humanity’ sounds like a joke.
Dr. No: Why have you disobeyed my strictest rule and come in daylight?
Prof Dent: I came to warn you.
Dr. No: Warn me?
Prof Dent: Tell you. Bond has discovered those rock samples of Strangways came from Crab Key. He’s not a fool. He’s sure to come out here.
I guess if you want to ride the funding gravy train, then you’ve got to stoop lower for the cause.
I’ve got this scar over my right eye that could use some cosmetic surgical reconstruction, but unless I get funding to finance it, climate change will make it worse. I say this with high confidence in this very likely outcome.
People need to raise their awareness of my scar, because I am one person that could set the precedent for helping other people like me from suffering the ravages of future climate change. [There — I’ve tactfully used the phrase, “climate change”, twice in my appeal.]
So “climate change” causes the bad things to get worse and the good things to go bad–send money!!
What for? The obvious end to this charade is the destruction of the planet and the way these activists screw things up when they have unlimited money will simply accelerate our demise!!
Send NO money!!
The planet is just a big ol’ dirt ball flying around the sun. It doesn’t care about any of this. It will keep flying around the sun NO MATTER WHAT WE DO.
As George Carlin pointed out, “Save the planet” is a joke.
“Climate change is starving life”
That’s total bull crap. A wee bit more heat and a wee bit more CO2 is wildly beneficial to life.
There is no species alive today that hasn’t lived through a several degree warmer climate in the last 10,000 years…so there are no species vulnerable to warming specifically.
The next global cooling phase cannot come too soon (due about now – according to a casual reading of Holocene climate cycles…and the AMO is 5-10 past peak already and heading negative).
When cooling comes, these fraudsters need to pay…on either the basis of outright fraud or on the basis of misusing the institutions of science. Misdirecting a few $Trillion is way beyond simply criminal.
Microbiologists are ready to get their cut of climate bux.
What is the carbon footprint of fear monger money appeals?
“”When cooling comes””
Then the present Warmers will just say, “”Look just as we told you our
preventative measures are working, but its not yet enough, we must keep
working to decrease the CO2″”.
Remember the 1970 .The Ice Age is coming. They soon changed to the
World is overheating.
Its all a combination of “Fame” , grants, and of course long term by others
for the Communist World Government.
Plus of course the Politicians, who will do anything to get re-elected.
MJE VK5ELL