Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Oyster herpes: Latest Symptom of Global warming

We all know that global warming is not good for the environment and that because of it many of earths ecosystems are being destroyed. In the United Kingdom they have detected cases of herpes in the shellfish. Experts think that global warming may have played a part in this outbreak. The virus is dormant until the waters reach about 61 degrees F, and during the summer the water in the U.K does reach this temperature. This is why experts assume that global warming had something to do with it. The Ostreid herpes are said to be known to only infect clams, scallops, and other mollusks. This virus has already killed 20 to 100 percent of Pacific Oysters in French beds in 2009,2008 and 2010.
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This relates to biology because this virus is endangering the oysters, scallops and mollusk that we all eat, once again destroying another ecosystem. So many oysters are dying because of this, and the sad part is its all because of global warming. Also oyster herpes have no visible symptoms so you cannot tell if an oyster has the virus or not. However in an effort to keep this virulent virus from spreading the British government has banned the shipping out of oysters from affected areas.
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This outbreak affects all the sea food lovers out there because it is unsafe to eat dead oysters. The virus was first found in the Seasalter Shellfish company, and they have been harvesting oysters for years. This is a big threat to the fishing industry. Global warming is a big issue and little by little we can see the damage it is doing. If sea water temperatures continue to rise this virus can spread in the U.S waters as well.

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