Ocean acidification (OA) studies to date have typically used stable open-ocean pH and CO2 values to predict the physiological responses of intertidal species to future climate scenarios, with few studies accounting for natural fluctuations of abiotic conditions or the alternating periods of emersion and immersion routinely experienced during tidal cycles. Here, we determine seawater carbonate chemistry and the corresponding in situ haemolymph acid–base responses over real time for two populations of mussel (Mytilus edulis) during tidal cycles, demonstrating that intertidal mussels experience daily acidosis during emersion. Using these field data to parameterize experimental work we demonstrate that air temperature and mussel size strongly influence this acidosis, with larger mussels at higher temperatures experiencing greater acidosis. There was a small interactive effect of prior immersion in OA conditions (pHNBS 7.7/pCO2 930 µatm) such that the haemolymph pH measured at the start of emersion was lower in large mussels exposed to OA. Critically, the acidosis induced in mussels during emersion in situ was greater (ΔpH approximately 0.8 units) than that induced by experimental OA (ΔpH approximately 0.1 units). Understanding how environmental fluctuations influence physiology under current scenarios is critical to our ability to predict the responses of key marine biota to future environmental changes.
Archive for the 'Projects' Category
Acid–base physiology over tidal periods in the mussel Mytilus edulis: size and temperature are more influential than seawater pH
Published 27 February 2019 Projects Leave a CommentTags: biological response, chemistry, field, laboratory, mollusks, North Atlantic, physiology
OA-ICC portal for ocean acidification biological response data
Published 25 January 2019 Projects , Science Leave a CommentStudies investigating the effects of ocean acidification on marine organisms and communities are increasing every year. Results are not easily comparable since the carbonate chemistry and ancillary data are not always reported in similar units and scales, and calculated using similar sets of constants.
In response to this problem, a data compilation is hosted at PANGAEA Data Publisher for Earth and Environmental Science and maintained in the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre (OA-ICC) in collaboration with Xiamen University, China and the Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche, France . The goal of this data compilation is to ensure the archival and streamlining of data on the biological response to ocean acidification (and other environmental drivers), as well as to provide easy access to the data for all users. Published data are made available to the scientific community in a coherent format and with a citable DOI.
This new user-friendly portal allows users to easily access relevant biological response data based on a set of filters.
We would greatly appreciate your feedback on this new tool. You can do so by contacting the OA-ICC at oaicc@iaea.org.
Continue reading ‘OA-ICC portal for ocean acidification biological response data’
An updated version of the OA-ICC bibliographic database is available online.
The database currently contains more than 5,200 references and includes citations, abstracts and assigned keywords. Updates are made every month.
The database is available as a group on Mendeley. Subscribe online or, for a better user experience, download the Mendeley Desktop application and sync with the group Ocean Acidification (OA-ICC). Please see the “User instructions” for further details.
New OA-ICC portal for ocean acidification biological response data
Published 4 December 2018 Projects , Science Leave a CommentStudies investigating the effects of ocean acidification on marine organisms and communities are increasing every year. Results are not easily comparable since the carbonate chemistry and ancillary data are not always reported in similar units and scales, and calculated using similar sets of constants.
In response to this problem, a data compilation is hosted at PANGAEA Data Publisher for Earth and Environmental Science and maintained in the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre (OA-ICC) in collaboration with Xiamen University, China and the Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche, France . The goal of this data compilation is to ensure the archival and streamlining of data on the biological response to ocean acidification (and other environmental drivers), as well as to provide easy access to the data for all users. Published data are made available to the scientific community in a coherent format and with a citable DOI.
This new user-friendly portal allows users to easily access relevant biological response data based on a set of filters.
We would greatly appreciate your feedback on this new tool. You can do so by contacting the OA-ICC at oaicc@iaea.org.
Continue reading ‘New OA-ICC portal for ocean acidification biological response data’
We are the 2018-2019 UCLA Undergraduate Research Team for Ocean Acidification in the Santa Monica Bay. Alongside the Bay Foundation and the Institute of Environmental Science (IoES) our team is working to continue this multi-year research project on kelp and sea grass. We aim to understand the effects of ocean acidification on these key underwater biomes and explore the future persistence of these ecosystem.
Informing adaptation decisions for Alaska’s salmon fisheries
Published 7 November 2018 Projects Leave a Comment
Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta). Credit: NOAA
This project began in 2018 and will end in 2021
We are integrating multiple areas of research on the impacts of ocean acidification (OA) and the influence of “tipping points” (i.e., regime shifts) on Alaska’s fisheries, particularly chum salmon in the Gulf of Alaska. We will develop indicators based on a range of information, from fish prices to harvest volume and average fish size. The project will use results from a bio-economic model to create decision tools and OA fisheries adaptation strategies for salmon managers to minimize the risk of OA for salmon populations and those who depend on them.
Why We Care
Alaska is expected to experience ocean acidification faster than any other coastal waters in the United States, primarily due to its colder water which absorbs more carbon dioxide than warmer waters. With seafood industry job incomes over $1.5 billion annually and communities that rely on healthy oceans for subsistence, nutrition, and culture, increased ocean acidification is expected to have significant implications in Alaska. For Alaskans dependent on salmon, it is critical to understand how salmon may fare in a higher-acidity environment, and the cultural and economic implications of their response. There is a potential for environmental thresholds, which, once crossed are difficult if not impossible to reverse. Further, there is a need to better understand the ramifications for humans from these effects and the implications of how human society responds.
Continue reading ‘Informing adaptation decisions for Alaska’s salmon fisheries’
Request for proposals: regional ocean acidification observing optimization study
Published 6 November 2018 Projects Leave a CommentDeadline: 4 March 2019
Description: The NOAA/OAR/Ocean Acidification Program (OAP) is soliciting proposals for studies investigating ocean acidification monitoring strategies that would offer an observing system design that best characterizes and tracks ocean acidification within U.S. Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) optimized towards characterizing the conditions most relevant to ecologically and economically important marine species. Funding is contingent upon the availability of Federal appropriations. It is anticipated that projects funded under this announcement will have a September 1, 2019 start date.
Total funding for this research: Applicants should submit proposals not to exceed $500,000 per year for projects generally 2-3 years in duration, with a total multi-year budget not to exceed $1,500,000 (Option 1: $350,000 per year for two years; Option 2: Up to $500,000 per year for three years). Should funds become available for this program, up to approximately $2,000,000 may be available in Fiscal Year 2019 for the first year of about 2-5 projects with expected start dates of September 1, 2019. Funding for this program is contingent upon availability of funds, which may not have been appropriated at the time of this announcement. While projects are expected to be 2-3 years in scope, funding may be spread over 4 federal fiscal years depending on how project timelines align with federal budgets. For proposals which involve a Regional Association of the Integrated Ocean Observing System, NOAA IOOS will contribute additional funding to cover RA costs to participate (up to 10% of the total project budget per year, over and above the OAP funding thresholds described above).
Continue reading ‘Request for proposals: regional ocean acidification observing optimization study’
