Marine Life Is Fleeing the Equator, Signaling Possible Mass Extinction Sunday April 18, 2021 Community Things are leaving the equator. That could be bad. Photo: Shutterstock The tropical water at the equator is renowned for having the richest diversity of marine life on Earth, with vibrant coral reefs and large aggregations of tunas, sea turtles, manta rays and whale sharks. The number of marine species naturally tapers off as you head towards the poles. Ecologists have assumed this global pattern has remained stable over recent centuries — until now. Our recent study found the ocean around the equator has already become too hot for many species to survive, and that global warming is responsible.