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Research title The Effects of Ocean Acidification on Marine Calcifying Organisms. Summary of research Ocean Acidification: Anthropogenic CO2 has already caused ocean pH to decrease by an average of 0.1 units and by 2100 is projected to fall by 0.5 units [1]. Biogenic calcium carbonate is abundant in the marine environment where invertebrates such as corals and molluscs produce calcium carbonate structures. These carbonate structures are composed predominantly of the most common calcium carbonate polymorphs in the biosphere [2] (calcite and aragonite). Critically, calcium carbonate minerals dissolve at low pH with aragonite and high-Mg calcite being more susceptible than calcite [3]. The detrimental impact of ocean acidification has been observed in field and laboratory studies [4, 5]. Concerns that ocean acidification will inhibit marine biogenic carbonate growth are based on the decreasing carbonate concentration in the ocean surface [6].
The organisms: Maerl (red coralline algae or rhodoliths), Lithothamnion glaciale, is a high-Mg marine biogenic calcite which is likely to be structurally very sensitive to increasing pCO2. Significantly, maerl performs a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity, ecosystem provision [7] and also impacts on the climate system including cloud nucleation and ozone stability [8]. The bivalve Mytilus edulis produces shells composed of calcite and aragonite and as both polymorphs are produced throughout ontogeny in M. edulis [9] this is an ideal organism to compare calcite and aragonite susceptibility to ocean acidification.
Objectives: The overall aim is to use a systems based approach to increase our understanding of how ocean acidification will impact marine calcifyers.
Bibliography: 1. Raven, J. et al., Ocean acidification due to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide. 2005, The Royal Society: London. 2. Falini, G., et al., Science, 1996. 271: 67-69. 3. Bischoff, W.D et al.. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 1987. 51: 1413-1423. 4. Hall-Spencer, J.M., et al., Nature, 2008: doi:10.1038/nature07051. 5. Veron, J.E.N., Coral Reefs, 2008. 27: 459-472. 6. Orr, J.C., et al., Nature, 2005. 437: 681-686. 7. Kamenos, N.A. et al., Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 2004. 247:183-189. 8. Ohsawa, N., et al., Phytochemistry, 2001. 58:683-6929. 9. Cusack, M. and A. Freer, Chem. Rev., 2008. 108: 4433-4454.
Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland (MASTS)
Changing Oceans Expedition 2012
Research on the Changing Oceans Expedition 2012 was also sponsored by Gill Supervisors Dr Nick Kamenos
Professor Maggie Cusack
Professor Murray Roberts (Heriot Watt University) Recent publications Donohue, P., Calosi, P., Bates, A., Laverock, B., Rastrick, S., Mark, F., Strobel, A., Widdicombe, S. (2012). Impact of exposure to elevated pCO2 on the physiology and behaviour of an important ecosystem engineer, the burrowing shrimp Upogebia deltaura. Aquatic Biology 15(1): 73-86.
View abstract >> doi:10.3354/ab00408 >> Recent research grants | View all grants >> Donohue, P., (2012) Sponsorship by Gill who donated offshore waterproof clothing to use during the 'NERC Changing Oceans Expedition 2012' to investigate the effects of ocean acidifcation on the cold water coral Lophelia pertusa. Donohue, P. 2007-2010. University of Plymouth Babbage Scholarship for BSc Marine Biology Donohue, P. 2010-2014. The Marine Alliance for Science & Technology for Scotland (MASTS) Prize PhD Studentship at The University of Glasgow |
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