Aquatic animals increase the earth's temperature

Animals that feed on the bottom of continuous water sources release nitrous oxide (N ₂ O), a gas that is capable of increasing the Earth's temperature.

Animals feed on the bottom of water sources.Photo: commondreams.org.

According to scientists, the amount of N ₂ O released by animals is much smaller than the burning of fossil fuels, but they also contribute to climate change. In addition, the impact of N ₂ O released by animals will be greater over time as nitrogen-rich chemical fertilizers continue to penetrate rivers, streams, lakes and seas.

N2O is a greenhouse gas, which has 310 times greater impact than CO2 with the same amount (CO ₂ is still the most dangerous greenhouse gas because it accounts for largest rate). The team of Peter Stief, an expert at Max Planck Institute of Marine Microbiology, found that all animals that feed on the bottom of rivers, streams, lakes, and sea by digging are emitting N ₂ O because they eat Nitrogen metabolism bacteria.

'These bacteria are able to survive in the stomach of animals. This surprised us, " Peter commented. Of course, the amount of N2O released by aquatic animals does not have a big impact on climate change on a global scale. But for each lake or river, the impact of N ₂ O is not small.