Obligate Anaerobes as Eldritch Old Ones
It’s funny how apt the comparison between obligate anaerobes and the concept of Eldritch Old Ones is. They once ruled the Earth, as they say, then were wiped out by changing climate. Specifically, it was the rise of atmospheric oxygen that killed them and that paved the way our ascent.
But through current anthropogenic climate change, we may be at risk at resurrecting the Old Ones from their graves.
High global temperatures in the past have been associated with the shutdown of oceanic circulations, causing anoxic (meaning “no oxygen”) events within parts of the ocean. This lead to the proliferation of the obligate anaerobes within the dead zones. Problem is, the anaerobes release hydrogen sulfide, a highly toxic and flammable substance. Buildup of the substance is thought to have caused the Permian-Triassic extinction event, known as the biggest extinction event in Earth’s history.
The shutdown of the thermohaline circulation is the worst-case scenario for current climate change is what i’m saying.