Ocean Deoxygenation: Causes, Consequences, and Conservation Strategies

Abstract

Ocean deoxygenation represents a critical consequence of anthropogenic climate change and nutrient pollution, yet remains under-recognized compared to ocean warming and acidification. This paper synthesizes current understanding of the mechanisms driving oxygen loss in marine environments, evaluates cascading ecological and biogeochemical consequences, and assesses conservation strategies. Global ocean dissolved oxygen has declined approximately 2% since 1960, with oxygen minimum zones expanding and coastal hypoxic areas increasing tenfold. Primary drivers include warming-induced stratification reducing oxygen solubility and ventilation, alongside eutrophication-driven microbial respiration in coastal waters. Consequences span cellular stress responses and metabolic constraints to habitat compression, biodiversity loss, and altered biogeochemical cycles including enhanced greenhouse gas emissions. Effective conservation requires integrated approaches: climate mitigation to address thermal deoxygenation through emissions reductions aligned with Paris Agreement targets, and comprehensive nutrient management combining agricultural best practices, wastewater treatment upgrades, and watershed restoration. We propose an integrated framework spanning global climate policy to local watershed management, emphasizing adaptive management, enhanced monitoring through autonomous platforms, and recognition of multi-decadal response timescales. Success demands unprecedented coordination across disciplines, sectors, and jurisdictions, guided by robust science while accommodating inherent uncertainties in this complex Earth system challenge.