Southeastern oceans warming fast: report

Australia's southeastern oceans are warming fast, threatening biodiversity, a report
card into the country's marine ecosystems says.

The report, produced by more than 70 scientists from 35 universities and government
agencies, was released in Brisbane on Friday as the first of series of biennial
reports into climate change impacts on Australia's marine life.
CSIRO scientist Dr Elvira Poloczanska said the report highlighted where climate
change had already occurred and the likely trends expected in 2030 and 2100.
"This is the first time Australia's marine science community has come together to
produce what will be a biennial guide for scientists, government and the community
on observed and projected impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems," Dr
Poloczanska said.
The report says Australian ocean temperatures will be one degree Celsius warmer by
2030 and 2.5 degrees Celsius warmer by 2100 with southeastern waters heating up the
fastest.
"The East Australian Current has penetrated about 350km further south so the
Southern Ocean is becoming warmer and we are seeing changes in the marine
biodiversity," Dr Poloczanska said.
"Tropical fish species are spreading and we are seeing a decline in temperate species."
She said turtles and other marine reptiles were susceptible because their body
temperatures fluctuate with environmental temperatures.
"Reptiles also produce more females in warmer temperatures so as temperatures warm
up we worry that reptiles will become 100 per cent female producing in a
population," she said.
The research team comprises scientists from CSIRO, Australian universities, state
and territory environmental agencies, the Australian Institute of Marine Science and
the Bureau of Meteorology.