Ocean Acidification

Human activities contribute significantly to the increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2). About one fourth of the anthropogenic CO2 emitted to the atmosphere is absorbed by the ocean, leading to the acidification of seawater. Ocean acidification and global warming could influence the marine ecosystems, in particular those involving calcifying organisms. We studied the individual and combined effect of pCO2 (glacial, present and year 2100 conditions) and temperature (13°C and 18°C) on the growth and calcification of E. huxleyi, a known blooming species in the contemporary ocean, using batch culture experiments. Photosynthesis and production of POC were significantly increased from the present to the future pCO2 treatment. A significant effect of pCO2 and of temperature on calcification was observed with a lower cellular PIC production at higher pCO2 and at higher temperature. The coccolith morphology was, in addition, examined by SEM.



De Bodt C, Van Oostende N, Harlay J, Roevros N, Sabbe K & Chou L, 2009. Study of the individual and combined effect of pCO2 and temperature on the coccolithophore E. huxleyi. Awards Ceremony Speeches and Abstracts of the 19th Annual V.M. Goldschmidt Conference, V.M. Goldschmidt Conference. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 73(13)-1:A271. Supplement.