These environments exist in relationships of mutual interaction through various transitional zones. Even a small change in one eventually affects the others over time. To prevent disruptions to ecosystem balance caused by changes that must remain within certain limits, winds and ocean currents have been assigned the role of transporting materials and maintaining equilibrium.

Nature’s calendar

Scientific data show that climate change is disrupting nature’s calendar. It causes plants to bloom earlier and shifts the breeding seasons of animals. Organisms such as mosquitoes that carry tropical diseases like malaria or dengue fever may spread farther north. Melting glaciers and changing rainfall patterns affect freshwater resources and aquatic life. Migration routes of animals change, and some species drive toward extinction. Drought-resistant plants increase while water-dependent species may disappear.

Climate conditions such as heat, cold, and the acidity of water are primary factors in the lives of animals and plants. These act as epigenetic factors influencing their bodies and functions. Both the outwardly visible characteristics (phenotypes) of living beings and their genetically encoded (genotypic) traits have been balanced in mutual harmony with environmental conditions. Indeed, biology as a whole is essentially the study of these delicate and wise balances established within living systems. From the harmony and proportion found in organs to the balance within cells and the order throughout the ecosystem, one is reminded of the wisdom behind the delicate measurements and balances as the following verses from the Qur’an convey: “Surely, We have created each and every thing by (precise) measure” (al-Qamar 54:49) and “…He Who has created seven heavens in harmony. You do not see any fault or incongruity in the creation of the All-Merciful. Look yet again: can you see any rifts?” (al-Mulk 67:3).  

In addition, ar-Rahman 55:5 draws attention to the movements of the Sun and Moon before mentioning the creation of life on earth and before the establishment of the sky (atmosphere) as a protective canopy; this alludes to the importance of the movements of these heavenly bodies are. Indeed, the tides in the oceans caused by the Moon and the effects of sunlight intensity on the reproduction of organisms such as corals reveal the interconnectedness of the Sun, Moon, atmosphere, and the ecosystem.  

The Qur’an also warns that this balance is being corrupted in the hands of mankind:

“Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of what people’s own hands have earned, so that God may let them taste some of the consequences of their deeds, in order that they may return to the right way.” (ar-Rum 30:41)

This verse openly points to disrupted ecological balances. The mention of corruption on land before sea may indicate that pollution and poisoning first begin on land and are then carried into rivers and seas through detergents, medicines, plastics, and other chemical waste produced by factories.

According to Mahasweta Saha, who studies marine chemistry and ecology at the Plymouth Marine Laboratory, increasing carbon dioxide levels in water disrupt the sensory systems of water fleas (Daphnia), making it harder for them to escape predators. It has also been observed that some of the most beautiful fish living among coral reefs have increasing difficulty recognizing approaching predators and begin to lose their ability to learn.

At present, climate change is presented as the sole explanation for all these developments. Yet climate change is a broad and general expression, and much more research is required to understand the underlying mechanisms involved—such as the acidification of waters, the long-term accumulation of toxic chemical waste discharged into the seas, and the alteration of marine chemistry by atmospheric gases carried by rainfall. It is now recognized that climate change can alter the chemical communication and behavior of animals living in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments, with potentially far-reaching consequences for the future of our planet and the balance of ecosystems. The importance of communication systems based on chemical scent signals is critical not only for regulating behaviors such as reproduction, feeding, migration, caring for offspring, hunting, and predator avoidance, but also for maintaining ecosystem balance. The fragrant chemical substances called pheromones, secreted by insects and used for communication, are vitally important. They constitute the language by which insects find their nests, describe food sources to members of the colony, locate mates during breeding periods, and warn one another of danger. These chemicals can deteriorate when temperatures exceed certain limits, potentially overturning the entire life of ant colonies, for example. Among the various forms of communication between living beings—sound, color, bodily movements, and others—substances known as infochemicals serve as scent signals both on body surfaces and within the surrounding environment. The large numbers of seabirds washing ashore dead in masses have therefore become a serious concern for ecologists.

Infochemicals influence a wide range of functions and behaviors, including predator-prey relationships. For example, sharks can detect the scent of these chemicals released by prey from astonishing distances. A shark can detect the smell of blood at concentrations as low as one part per million from as far as eight kilometers away. Likewise, any scent we perceive may in fact originate from an infochemical created for the protection or nourishment of another species. For instance, when we walk through a pine forest and detect its scent, that smell signals the presence of certain chemical compounds, yet the same scent we feel evokes entirely different responses in a human being, a bear, a reptile, or an ant.  

Some infochemicals secreted by plants attract insects necessary for pollination while repelling those that might harm them. The fact that an unconscious plant synthesizes selective chemical substances and “knows” which insect species will assist it leaves the mind in amazement. In some cases, a plant under insect attack may even release chemicals warning neighboring plants of approaching danger.

The larvae of barnacles (Balanus), which attach themselves to the bottoms of boats and dock pillars, select suitable surfaces through these infochemical molecules. Certain bat species can identify the healthiest mates—with the greatest genetic diversity and the highest likelihood of producing surviving offspring—through scent alone.

Changing Infochemicals

Climate change is disrupting and altering the production of information-carrying chemical substances such as pheromones. It has been shown that every factor associated with climate change—temperature, carbon dioxide, pH levels, and others—can become disturbed and thereby disrupt the essential processes organisms use to communicate with one another.

Climate change is also reducing escape behaviors in some fish species by weakening their fear responses toward potential predators. Many fish release specific chemical substances when injured by predators or otherwise threatened. Other fish detect these warning chemicals through smell and flee. However, according to both experiments and initial field observations, when more CO₂ is absorbed into water and pH levels decline, hypoxanthine-3-N-oxide—the best studied alarm signal—undergoes irreversible changes, making it more difficult for fish to detect. Rising carbon dioxide lowers pH, increasing acidification. Ocean acidification makes it more difficult for shell-forming organisms such as mollusks and corals to build their calcium carbonate shells. Increased CO₂ levels in fish blood also trigger behavioral disorders, while rising heavy metal concentrations damage the nervous system and make it harder for fish to escape predators.

In an article published in The Conversation, Dr. Sevrine Sailley states that European fish species are migrating toward new waters. The alteration of chemical signals by climate change creates stress throughout ecosystems and causes informational disruption. According to current models, if climate change accelerates, atmospheric and marine disturbances may become far more severe. Some estimates suggest that by the end of this century North Sea cod and Alaska pollock populations may decline by 30–40 percent. Atlantic mackerel abundance may decrease by 25 percent, while sardines may experience only a modest 5 percent increase despite shifting 245 kilometers northward. Tuna populations may increase by 40 percent; however, bluefin tuna are predators that feed on herring, mackerel, and other schooling fish. Thus, an increase in tuna would not be welcome news for fisheries but rather a cause for concern.

According to projections, other predators such as dolphins, seals, and seabirds will also be affected by climate change and may struggle to obtain their preferred fish species. The pressure on fish populations will further increase if overfishing continues in the Northeast Atlantic fisheries, 24 percent of which are already considered unsustainable.

By 2050, if a “moderate” emissions path is followed, waters surrounding the United Kingdom are expected to warm by approximately 1°C. If emissions continue rising uncontrollably, the increase could reach 2–3°C by the end of the century. At the same time, the food sources fish depend on—such as small plankton—may decline by up to 30 percent.

If global warming leads to breakdowns in chemical communication between the environment and plants and animals, or between disease-causing pathogens and the organisms they infect, it seems inevitable that we humans—living within the same ecosystem—will also be affected.

To prevent these potential disaster scenarios, research projects aimed at preserving ecological balances should be encouraged in light of the principles outlined in the holy scriptures: viewing nature not as a commodity to be exploited but as a trust from our Creator; avoiding excessive consumption and wastefulness; and refraining from placing ourselves in danger through our own hands. Humanity must carefully consider what its actions bring about and what they take away while safeguarding the Divine wisdom and measures embedded within the ecosystem.

Frostbite Protection in Mice Suggests an Antifreeze Glycoprotein
Heisig M. et al. PLOS ONE, February 2015.

Some animals such as ticks and fish have anti-freeze proteins that protect them from extreme cold conditions. Anti-freeze proteins typically prevent cold damage by limiting the formation of ice crystals that would otherwise lead to tissue damage. However, warm-blooded mammals, including humans, do not have such proteins and can suffer injuries from severe cold, such as frostbite. In a recent study, scientists tested whether the anti-freeze proteins of other species can protect mammals from such cold injuries. They genetically introduced an anti-freeze protein from the black-legged tick into a live mouse. When mice tails were exposed to cold for seven days, 60% of the transgenic mice showed no visible signs of frostbite, compared to only 11% of the controls. In addition, inflammation response from the immune systems of the transgenic mice was dramatically lower.  This study is the first to demonstrate a protein’s ability to boost frostbite resistance in an adult mammal. Although any potential human applications of anti-freeze proteins are far away, this study spotlights two future directions. First, anti-freeze proteins could potentially be utilized to extend the lifetime of organs prior to transplantation. Second, anti-freeze proteins may provide cellular protection for people with certain autoimmune diseases, such as scleroderma, that are characterized by cold sensitivity.

Smartphones as earthquake warning devices

Crowd-sourced earthquake early warning
Minson ES et al. Science Advances, April 2015.

The cellphones in our pockets function as cameras, calculators, flashlights – and now earthquake sensors. During an earthquake, even a few seconds can make a difference between life and death. Japan has the most advanced early warning system, which saved many lives during the 2011 Tohoku earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0. However, these systems are expensive and not practical at a personal level. A new study proposes that smartphones can be utilized to detect earthquakes via their GPS (Global Positioning System). Although GPS in smartphones use a relatively coarse method of positioning compared with many sensitive instruments, they can detect as little as six inches of displacement, which can be sufficient for earthquake detection. Scientists first tested the accuracy of smartphone GPS systems by shaking a phone and comparing the recorded displacements with a sensitive scientific instrument. After many analyses in different contexts, they concluded that smartphones could reliably detect earthquakes of a magnitude 7.0 and above. However, an obvious problem with this approach is that smartphones are always in motion as we walk, drive, or simply play with our phones; how can a smartphone differentiate a real earthquake from a routine motion? Scientists then came up with a solution called a “trigger” in which an earthquake alarm would only be activated if a smartphone and its four closest neighbors recorded the same amount of displacement. Experts are still skeptical about how well this system would work in a real-world situation. But, the benefit of crowd-sourcing earthquake detection is well recognized; all you need is a smartphone app.

Ocean acidification linked to the greatest extinction

Ocean acidification and the Permo-Triassic mass extinction.
Clarkson MO et al. Science, April 2015

A recent study suggests that ocean acidification caused by extreme volcanic activity triggered the greatest extinction of all time. This extinction event took place approximately 252 million years ago, and over the course of 60,000 years, it erased more than 90% of marine species and 60% of land animals. The researchers analyzed ancient rocks from the deserts of the United Arab Emirates, which were formed on the ocean floor about 250 million years ago. They specifically examined the ratios of boron and carbon isotopes. These chemical measurements revealed that oceans went from alkaline to highly acidic over the course of a few thousand years, which is very quick in geological terms. Scientists suggest that a huge pulse of volcanic eruptions discharged immense amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and acidified the oceans. This resulted in possibly fatal conditions for marine life; when combined with the destruction of food chains, most marine life went extinct. The amount of carbon added to the atmosphere during the mass extinction was predicted to be greater than today’s fossil fuel reserves. However, alarmingly, the rate of carbon released at the time was very similar to modern emissions. Oceans today are rapidly acidifying due to increased CO₂ emissions by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels; the average pH has dropped by 0.1 units since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Oceanographers cautioned that a dramatic rise in the acidity levels of oceans affects all marine life, particularly shellfish fisheries around the world. We can only hope that the future does not resemble the past.