Ocean acidification is the subject of a growing research interest. Most of the data collected so far has been obtained through laboratory perturbation experiments performed on isolated organisms for a short period of time. Studies performed in situ are key to investigate the effects of ocean acidification, over long periods of time, on the structure and functioning of natural communities. Such field experiments are, however, very challenging.
The aim of the European Free-CO2 Enrichment (eFOCE) experiment is to construct and test an benthic experimental system allowing the regulation of pH in a shallow, temperate coastal area (the prototype of a similar system has already been deployed in a coral reef setting by the University of Queensland). Following its validation, this instrument will be used to assess the effects of ocean acidification on key benthic, shallow-water communities of the Mediterranean Sea.
eFOCE is led by the Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche (LOV; Université Pierre et Marie Curie) and includes the following partners: Monterey Bay Research Aquarium Institute (MBARI), Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA) and Station Biologique de Roscoff (SBR). eFOCE receives financial support from Foundation BNP Paribas (http://mecenat.bnpparibas.com/).
Contacts: Frédéric Gazeau (gazeau@obs-vlfr.fr) and Jean-Pierre Gattuso (gattuso@obs-vlfr.fr).
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