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Research Article - Ocean acidification accelerates dissolution of…
Research Article - Ocean acidification accelerates dissolution of experimental coral
reef communities
The Experiment
Importance: Coral reefs produce calcium carbonate framework and host a plethora of marine biodiversity and even protect shores from erosion. Disturbances like warming waters and ocean acidification have unknown effects on coral.
Methods: Investigate the effects of ocean acidification by gathering and constructing off site large outdoor flumes with samples of calcified algae, corals, and sediment from Moorea, French Polynesia and exposing them to simulated ocean acidification effects for 8 weeks.
Results
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Community
- Net calcification was higher at standard conditions than at higher partial pressure of CO2 conditions during both the day and night.
- Calcification was 59% lower at high partial pressure CO2 conditions when compared to calcification at standard conditions.
Sediments
- Net calcification of the sediments alone differed between treatments, during the day and night.
- Night: negative production. (Opposite results for control groups exposed to stable conditions).
- Day: positive production. (Opposite results for control groups exposed to stable conditions).
- No differences between flumes within each treatment.
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Conclusion
- Under predicted ocean acidification conditions by the end of the century some tropical corals and calcifying algae will persist, but not all species will.
- Function of coral reefs as a net precipitator of calcium carbonate or as a physical barrier to protect against erosion may not last.
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