The report will be based on a scientific article (from a scientific journal), chosen by each student. Your task is to summarize the scientific content, then to draw out the key philosophical issues.
ANSWER
Key finding
From the article by Stillman & Paganini (2015), most of the oceans in the globe are faced with a crisis arising from the increase in the atmospheric Pco?. The increase in the atmospheric Pco? has led to a decline in Ph levels. The decrease in the Ph is often called the ocean acidification (OA). Simply this is the effect of the ocean becoming more acidic which has an impact on the ocean life both flora and fauna. Also, OA has both positive and negative effects on aquatic life (Stillman & Paganini, 2015).
Importance of the finding
This finding is interesting in the study of biochemical life in the oceans as it gives a chance for scientists to study the different variations. Most impressive is the scientists will be expected to explore the ocean life under normal conditions, and at OA conditions. Will ocean life adapt to the changes due to OA or not? If they adapt, what are the expected genetical and mutation changes expected for survival and if not, does this expose ocean life to extinction? These are some of the exhaustive questions emanating from the finding.
Positive feature
The main positive feature of the study is, due to OA; some of the species can change their genetical composition and mutate to adapt to the changes. For some of the species
, due to change in their genetic structures, improved hybrid species are produced better than the generation which is existence at normal ocean conditions. For instance, some species live longer under OA conditions.
Negative feature
The negative impact of OA is despite some species being able to cope with the changes; a higher percentage of species is unable to deal with the changes in OA. This puts a high number of oceanic flora and fauna at an increased risk of extinction if nothing is done to control pollution and climatic changes which are the leading causes of variation in ph.
Reflection
The negative impacts of OA are severe compared to the benefits of OA; hence, efforts should be put in place to raise the oceanic ph. This can only be achieved if humans reduce the rate at which they are polluting the environment. Mother Nature is the most destructive form of catastrophes, and people ignore the fact that natural calamities occur due to human interference of the natural ecosystem. Human beings are the agents of destruction or can make the environment better. Even though some species undergo mutation and produce robust offspring, the harmful effects that OA brings in the long term is not comparable to the benefit. Thus, people should conserve the environment for a better future for many generations to come.
Reference
Stillman, J. H., & Paganini, A. W. (2015). Biochemical adaptation to ocean acidification. Journal of Experimental Biology, 218(12), 1946-1955.