According to a new large-scale analysis of poisonous aquatic animals by researchers at the University of Western Washington (USA), dangerous species can expand their habitats. Among the species that can move closer to the poles due to the warming waters are lionfish, sea snakes, crown of thorns and many species of poisonous jellyfish.
One of the groups of animals that are most likely to expand their habitat and numbers due to warming water and changes in the acidity of the ocean is jellyfish. These include the deadly Irukandji and box jellyfish, which are responsible for the rise in deaths in Australia.
But the climate is not always to blame for the spread of marine animals. So, in Florida, lionfish have become much more, since they are released by people who bred them as pets. These fish oppress marine animals and sting painfully the people they meet.
The starfish Acantaster began to spread from its traditional habitat in the Indo-Pacific region southward to the Great Barrier Reef, which stretches along the coast of Australia. These voracious, toxic creatures can eat up entire reef systems. They are dangerous for people too - their bites are very painful, they leave burns and can carry infections.
Hedgehog fish are also found in new places. But the study's authors note a lack of data on how climate change is affecting habitat or the amount of fish that people stumble upon most often - stingrays. Scientists believe more research is needed on the habitats and the impact of changing weather patterns on stingrays, wartlets, and blue-ringed octopuses to understand the future challenges.
But not all toxic aquatic species are coping with climate change successfully. Sea snakes, although abundant in South Korea, California and Hawaii, are showing declining populations around the world. Poisonous frogs are worst of all due to their sensitivity to temperature changes. Some species could become extinct due to a combination of climate change and pathogens such as chytrid fungi, which are also spread by climate change.
Due to the settling of venomous creatures in new places, hospitals will have to face an increase in the number of bites. This can lead to higher prices for medical services, as some antidotes are very expensive. Poor countries will suffer the most. According to the study, the problem will only get worse in the future, as many people move to coastal areas. Scientists note that by the end of the century, 50% of the world's population will live within 100 km of the coastline.
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