We studied the effect of ocean acidification on Mediterranean marine biodiversity at volcanic carbon dioxide (CO2) vent systems that had caused long-term gradients in seawater carbonate chemistry. Our observations verify concerns, based on model predictions and short-term laboratory experiments, that ocean acidification will likely cause a decrease in Mediterranean marine biodiversity and lead to shifts in ecosystem structure.CO2 vents appear as valid natural laboratories that should be used to improve our scarce knowledge on the effect of ocean acidification on marine biota.
Hall-Spencer J. & Rodolfo-Metalpa R., 2008. Loss of Mediterranean marine biodiversity in a high-CO2 world. In: Briand F. (Ed.), Impacts of acidification on biological, chemical and physical systems in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, pp. 61-64. Monaco: CIESM. Article.
