DNA From Two Octopus Species Just Revealed a Serious Warning About Global Climate Change | Flipboard

Article Title: DNA From Two Octopus Species Just Revealed a Serious Warning About Global Climate Change | Flipboard.

Introduction: The impact of global climate change is not only affecting land-based creatures but also our deep-sea dwellers. Recently, scientists have discovered critical information about two octopus species that underscores the urgency of addressing climate change.

Summary: In the article, researchers revealed that two octopus species, the pale octopus and the deep-sea octopus, have genetic similarities that suggest they shared a common ancestor not too long ago in evolutionary time. These creatures have not interbred for at least two million years and have not even encountered each other in the wild because they reside in separate ecosystems. However, their genetic connection suggests that past climate changes may have caused the ocean to mix deeper and shallower waters, enabling the transfer of species from one environment to the other. This genetic connection between octopus species is vital evidence of how climate change impacts our oceans.

Additional Information: Climate change can cause a rise in sea levels, warming ocean temperatures, and ocean acidification. The impact of these changes can disrupt the food chain and habitats of deep-sea creatures. In most cases, deep-sea creatures have evolved to rely on scarce energy sources and adapted to life under high pressure and extreme cold conditions. Changes in these environments could threaten their survival, further highlighting the urgent need to mitigate climate change.

Conclusion: The genetic connection between two seemingly unrelated octopus species highlights the urgency of addressing climate change. This discovery brings attention to how disruptions caused by climate change can have far-reaching effects across ecosystems. We need to act fast to limit further negative impacts on our planet’s oceans and its inhabitants.