Informative Outline with Supporting Materials
Oscar Manuel Gonzalez
HCI College
SPC2608
Amanda Neuman
Due Date: Sunday, 26 January 2025
Topic: The Impact of Climate Change on Marine Life
General Purpose: To inform
Specific Purpose: To inform the audience about how climate change is affecting marine ecosystems, the challenges marine life faces, and potential solutions to mitigate these impacts.
I. Introduction
A. Attention-getter: Imagine a world where the ocean's vibrant coral reefs have turned into ghostly white skeletons, fish populations have plummeted, and marine predators struggle to find food, drastically altering the delicate balance of marine ecosystems.
B. Thesis Statement: Climate change is significantly affecting marine life by disrupting ecosystems, threatening biodiversity, and altering fish populations, which necessitates urgent action and awareness.
C. Preview of Main Points:
- The effects of rising sea temperatures on marine ecosystems.
- The impact of ocean acidification on marine biodiversity.
- Strategies to combat climate change and protect marine life.
II. Body
A. Overview of First Main Point: The effects of rising sea temperatures on marine ecosystems.
- Coral bleaching: Rising temperatures lead to coral bleaching, where corals expel the algae that provide them with color and nutrients, leading to significant mortality. (Hughes et al., 2017).
- Fish health and migration: Warmer waters affect fish spawning and migration patterns, which disrupt entire food chains, making it harder for predators to find food and for prey to survive. (Fatima et al., 2022).
B. Overview of Second Main Point: The impact of ocean acidification on marine biodiversity.
- Effects on calcifying organisms: Increased CO2 levels are causing ocean waters to become more acidic, which negatively affects calcifying organisms such as shellfish and corals, leading to weaker shells and skeletal structures (Orr et al., 2005).
- Decline in biodiversity: The resulting biodiversity decline alters ecosystem services that humans rely on, such as fisheries and coastal protection, severely impacting local economies and food security (Doney et al., 2012).
C. Overview of Third Main Point: Strategies to combat climate change and protect marine life.
- Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): Implementing MPAs can help preserve biodiversity and promote the recovery of marine ecosystems by restricting harmful activities like overfishing and habitat destruction (Worm et al., 2009).
- Reducing carbon emissions: Transitioning to renewable energy sources and adopting sustainable practices are essential for mitigating climate change's effects on marine environments and preserving marine biodiversity (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC], 2021).
III. Conclusion
A. Review of Main Points: In conclusion, climate change is severely impacting marine ecosystems through rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification, leading to declines in biodiversity and significant challenges for marine species. However, by adopting strategies such as establishing marine protected areas and reducing carbon emissions, we can mitigate these effects.
B. Closure/Clincher: If we do not take immediate steps to address climate change, the oceans may reach a point of no return, depriving future generations of the vast resources and beauty that marine life provides.
Supporting Materials
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Hughes, T. P., et al. (2017). "Coral reefs in the Anthropocene." Nature, 550 (7670): 41-49.
- Discusses the impact of rising sea temperatures on coral reefs and the subsequent phenomena of coral bleaching.
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Fatima, S., et al. (2022). "Climate Change and Fish: Effect of Increasing Temperature." Journal of Marine Science, 79(2): 273-287.
- Examines how warmer waters affect fish behaviors and populations.
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Orr, J. C., et al. (2005). "Anthropogenic ocean acidification over the twenty-first century and its impact on calcifying organisms." Nature, 437(7059): 681-686.
- Analyzes the impact of CO2 absorption on ocean pH levels and marine organisms.
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Doney, S. C., et al. (2012). "Climate Change Impacts on Marine Ecosystems." Annual Review of Marine Science, 4: 11-37.
- Reviews the implications of biodiversity loss for marine ecosystems and human economies.
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Worm, B., et al. (2009). "Rebuilding global fisheries." Science, 325(5940): 578-585.
- Discusses the benefits of marine protected areas for biodiversity and ecosystem recovery.
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IPCC (2021). "Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis." Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
- Provides comprehensive data and summaries on climate change, its drivers, and mitigation strategies.
Notes:
- When delivering the speech, ensure to engage the audience with visuals such as graphs or images showing coral bleaching and affected marine species.
- Practice clear articulation and maintain eye contact with your audience to enhance connection and impact.