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https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/15835
Title: | Growth response of an early successional assemblage of coralline algae and benthic diatoms to ocean acidification | Contributor(s): | James, Rebecca K (author); Hepburn, Christopher D (author); Cornwall, Christopher E (author); McGraw, Christina (author); Hurd, Catriona L (author) | Publication Date: | 2014 | DOI: | 10.1007/s00227-014-2453-3 | Handle Link: | https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/15835 | Abstract: | The sustained absorption of anthropogenically released atmospheric CO₂ by the oceans is modifying seawater carbonate chemistry, a process termed ocean acidification (OA). By the year 2100, the worst case scenario is a decline in the average oceanic surface seawater pH by 0.3 units to 7.75. The changing seawater carbonate chemistry is predicted to negatively affect many marine species, particularly calcifying organisms such as coralline algae, while species such as diatoms and fleshy seaweed are predicted to be little affected or may even benefit from OA. It has been hypothesized in previous work that the direct negative effects imposed on coralline algae, and the direct positive effects on fleshy seaweeds and diatoms under a future high CO₂ ocean could result in a reduced ability of corallines to compete with diatoms and fleshy seaweed for space in the future. In a 6-week laboratory experiment, we examined the effect of pH 7.60 (pH predicted to occur due to ocean acidification just beyond the year 2100) compared to pH 8.05 (present day) on the lateral growth rates of an early successional, cold-temperate species assemblage dominated by crustose coralline algae and benthic diatoms. Crustose coralline algae and benthic diatoms maintained positive growth rates in both pH treatments. The growth rates of coralline algae were three times lower at pH 7.60, and a non-significant decline in diatom growth meant that proportions of the two functional groups remained similar over the course of the experiment. Our results do not support our hypothesis that benthic diatoms will outcompete crustose coralline algae under future pH conditions. However, while crustose coralline algae were able to maintain their presence in this benthic rocky reef species assemblage, the reduced growth rates suggest that they will be less capable of recolonizing after disturbance events, which could result in reduced coralline cover under OA conditions. | Publication Type: | Journal Article | Source of Publication: | Marine Biology, 161(7), p. 1687-1696 | Publisher: | Springer | Place of Publication: | Germany | ISSN: | 1432-1793 0025-3162 |
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: | 060205 Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl Marine Ichthyology) 030105 Instrumental Methods (excl Immunological and Bioassay Methods) |
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: | 310305 Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) 340105 Instrumental methods (excl. immunological and bioassay methods) |
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: | 960304 Climate Variability (excl. Social Impacts) 960305 Ecosystem Adaptation to Climate Change |
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: | 190502 Climate variability (excl. social impacts) 190102 Ecosystem adaptation to climate change |
Peer Reviewed: | Yes | HERDC Category Description: | C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal |
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Appears in Collections: | Journal Article |
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