Thinking of a little Nudibranch

I have a deep appreciation for nature and everything related to the oceans, forests, and diverse ecosystems of South Africa. It saddens me that 8 billion people on Earth often overlook the fragility of our planet's ecosystems. This is our only home, yet few take the time to learn how we can protect our planet and all its living creatures, ultimately saving ourselves in the process.

I created a small drawing as a tribute to a creature known as the Dusky membrotha (Nembrotha Kubaryana Nudibranch). Isn't he cute! It inhabits coral reefs in the Tropical Western Indo-Pacific region, ranging from South Africa to Micronesia. This species is threatened by rising ocean temperatures, which result in more severe marine heatwaves.

The ocean absorbs more than 90% of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases in Earth's climate system (heat from human-caused global warming.). This absorption is due to water's high heat capacity, meaning it takes a large amount of energy to raise its temperature. The rate of ocean heat uptake has been accelerating, with some data suggesting the rate has nearly tripled since the mid-2000s.

We are at risk of losing our coral reefs and with that the millions of small and big creatures that are dependent on this fast ecosystem.

The loss of coral reefs leads to the decline of the bigger fish species primarily due to the collapse of the food web, the destruction of habitat and nurseries, and increased vulnerability to predators. These effects cascade up the food chain, ultimately impacting larger species like dolphins, whales, manatees, sharks etc.

My intention is not to present this as a message of despair, but rather as an opportunity for information and education to protect our oceans, and in doing so, preserve ourselves and everything we cherish as beautiful.

-Jadri Barnard