Ocean Acidification

“Ocean Acidification and Shellfish: Can Seagrasses Provide a Local Solution?” presented by Dr. Emily Rivest, Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Recorded March 4, 2021, as part of the Hooked on OA mini-series.

This is a webinar on Ocean Acidification in the Mediterranean organized in the framework of the Monaco Ocean Week 2021: Future Priorities for Addressing Ocean Acidification in the Mediterranean: from research to policy. The session was held on March 24th and organized by the IUCN and OA Med-Hub of GOA-ON with the collaboration of the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco. Despite long-standing research programmes and major efforts to increase awareness in the Mediterranean region, policies and mitigation efforts that are specifically targeted at Ocean Acidification are still thin on the ground.

*For Part One, following an overview of the status of OA science in the Mediterranean region, this webinar examined the socio-economic aspects of OA, the reasons behind the policy gaps, the actions that can realistically implemented at national and regional levels, and the opportunities the current enhanced global focus on climate change could bring to improve the resilience of Mediterranean marine ecosystems. At the end of this part, some highlights on how to better engage Southern Mediterranean countries in OA science and actions were presented.

*In Part Two, a discussion panel (Q/A session) drew answers from critical questions related to OA and climate change from experts and policy-makers from various Mediterranean countries, and beyond.

Translation into French will be made available.

Sam Dupont is an Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer in Marine Eco-Physiology at the University of Gothenburg, whose main research topic is on the effect of global changes (e.g., ocean acidification, warming) on marine ecosystems. His work aims to reveal the mechanisms behind species and ecosystem responses (physiology, ecology, evolution) to environmental changes, and at developing the much-needed unifying theory for large-scale projections.

The Planetary Biology Lecture Series aims to present ground-breaking research and new approaches in studying our planet, connecting areas such as ecology, microbiology, molecular biology, evolution and geochemistry, in order to share ideas and have discussions that touch on aspects of one of EMBL’s transversal research themes, specifically the planetary biology theme.

Learn more about EMBL’s planetary biology transversal theme here: https://www.embl.de/research/interdis…

YouTube, 31 March 2021. Text and video.

In this “Mini-sode”, Maia covers Ocean Acidification: what is it, what causes it, and how does it happen? 

Seaquaria Ocean Education has a great Ocean Acidification free downloadable resource on their website, check it out here: Educator Resources – Seaquaria

Resources:

Ocean acidification facts and information (nationalgeographic.com)

Ocean acidification | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (noaa.gov)

In this video interview, Ocean Acidification Community of Practice Coordinator, Kristina Barclay, sat down with one of our two OA CoP Co-Leads, Dr. Brent Else (University of Calgary), to learn more about his OA research and interests, and motivations behind leading Canada’s OA community.

Audio Transcript:

Kristina: So welcome to our Ocean Acidification Community of Practice “Meet the CoP” blog series where we get to know a little bit more about the research and leadership team guiding our OA Community of Practice. Today I’m speaking with Dr. Brent Else, Associate Professor at the University of Calgary. Welcome!

Brent: Great, thanks.

On 2/18/21, Dr. Grace Saba of Rutgers University presented “Ocean and Coastal Acidification in the Mid-Atlantic: The What, the Why, and the Risks.” Part I of MACAN’s Hooked on Ocean Acidification webinar series.

During our second evening of the Hooked on Ocean Acidification mini-series, Dr. Hannes Baumann (University of Connecticut) provided an engaging presentation about the vulnerability of coastal fishes to ocean acidification. He discussed the sensitivity of early life stages, the higher tolerance of some juveniles and adults, and how the presence of multiple stressors, such as hypoxia and changing temperatures, in combination with acidifying waters, influence fish growth and survival.

The MEOPAR OA Community of Practice (CoP) was formed in 2018, with the overarching goal of sharing knowledge and improving linkages between OA knowledge creators and end-users across Canada. The OA CoP is led by two co-leads, Dr. Helen Gurney-Smith (DFO) and Dr. Brent Else (University of Calgary) and coordinator, Dr. Kristina Barclay (University of Calgary, MEOPAR), with guidance from an interdisciplinary Steering Committee from across the country. OA CoP objectives include the development of knowledge transfer and community engagement via accessible content, resources, and databases, and best-practices for data collection and sharing involving research groups, stakeholders, and community-based research. In this webinar, the OA CoP will present some of its key activities to date, its new online resources and blog series, as well as updates on the development of future projects. Current and future activities are focused on increasing online content and resources to increase OA CoP awareness and engagement, the development of a low-cost OA sensor package to aid aquaculture operations and larger monitoring efforts, conducting regional vulnerability assessments, and participation in partner OA organizations, including the GOA-ON North American Hub, the OA Information Exchange, DFO-NOAA OA Working Groups, the OA Alliance, and MEOPAR. Speaker: Kristina Barclay joined the MEOPAR OA CoP in October 2020 as their new coordinator, and a Postdoctoral Associate at the University of Calgary. She received her Ph.D. in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Alberta, where she studied the effects of ocean acidification on marine snails and their relationships with shell-crushing crab predators through time. Kristina hopes to bring her background in OA research and science outreach/communication to continue to mobilize and engage the MEOPAR OA CoP.

GOA-ON

This presentation will introduce the audience to the Sustainable Development GOAL 14 and in particular the SDG target 14.3 and its indicator 14.3.1 focusing on ocean acidification. It will introduce the related methodology, related meta-data and data requirements, what kind of data to submit and where. We will show how international collaboration can, and already has, increased scientific capacity and how continued efforts will hopefully help to reduce the negative impacts on ocean health.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Excess carbon dioxide (CO2) isn’t just warming the planet; it’s also reacting with seawater and making the oceans more corrosive—a process known as ocean acidification. This slight increase in acidity doesn’t change the way the ocean looks or feels to us—but it’s a big deal for marine species with hard parts made of calcium carbonate, like pteropods, whose delicate shells begin to dissolve when exposed to acidified seawater. Meg Chadsey will demonstrate how ocean acidification is stressing her favorite local shellfish species—oysters—and explain why some shellfish farmers are turning to kelp for help. The webinar lasts about 45 minutes with moderated questions and answers throughout. Aimed at grades 2-8, but all ages will enjoy. (Recorded on February 10, 2021) Meg Chadsey, NOAA’s Washington Sea Grant and the NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Lab in Seattle, WA **American Sign Language was provided live via a video remote interpreter during the webinar.

#NOAALive4Kids​ #SeaGrantSTEM​

Thursday 17th DECEMBER 10:00-11:00hrs (AEST)

Professor Philip Munday

Abstract: 

It is a little over a decade since research commenced into the effects of anthropogenic ocean acidification on marine fishes. In that time, we have learned that projected end-of-century CO₂ levels can affect the physiology, growth and survival of some species, but not others. There are also wide-ranging effects on behaviour that could alter the performance and survivorship of some species. However, these effects are context and species specific, and the results depend on how experiments are done. In a provocative article published in Nature, Clark et al. claimed that ocean acidification does not impair the behaviour of coral reef fishes and that previous studies are not repeatable. In this talk I outline the overwhelming evidence from a decade of research showing that elevated CO₂ can affect the behaviour of a wide variety of fishes, including coral reef fishes, and I describe how methodological differences explain why different studies yield different results. I conclude by considering the possible effects of ocean acidification on reef fishes compared with other, more immediate, threats from climate change.

Biography:

Professor Philip Munday is a Chief Investigator and Reef Research Leader in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University in Townsville. He has broad interests in the ecology and evolution of reef fishes. His primary research focuses on predicting the impacts that climate change and ocean acidification will have on populations and communities of marine fishes, both directly through changes in the physical environment and indirectly through effects on coral reef habitat. Using a range of laboratory and field-based experiments the research group he leads is investigating the effects of climate change on fish populations and testing their capacity for acclimation and adaptation to a rapidly changing environment.

Ocean and coastal acidification (OCA) threatens marine ecosystems and the coastal communities that rely on them. Actions and best practices to adapt to and mitigate impacts of OCA, such as buffering sediments, restoring seagrasses and conserving refugia is an area of active research. Hear from five speakers about strategies to mitigate impacts of OCA on coral reefs and shellfish resources.

Speaking: Agneta Fransson, Norwegian Polar Institute, Oslo, Norway

Event Type: Webinars and Virtual Events

When: 9 December 2020

Where: Online: 12:00 pm AKST, 4:00 pm EST

Summary
International Glaciological Society Global Seminar:

Speaking: Agneta Fransson, Norwegian Polar Institute, Oslo, Norway, “Glacial Water Impacts on the Chemical Characteristics of Sea Ice and Seawater and Ocean Acidification in Svalbard Fjords”.

Thursday 26th of November 11:00 to 12:00hrs (AEST)

https://jcu.zoom.us/j/88350515490 Password: 730762

Abstract:Ocean acidification, the increase in seawater CO₂ with all its associated consequences, is relatively well understood in open oceans. In shelf seas such as the Great Barrier Reef, processes are much less understood, due to complex interactions with water quality and biological processes. I will show new data how ocean acidification has been progressing in the Great Barrier Reef, and its direct and indirect effects on coral reefs of the GBR, including shifts from corals to seaweed, impaired coral recruitment, and increasing bioerosion. Our new data from the Great Barrier Reef suggest that functional changes are already occurring, measurably affecting coralline algae, and coral recruitment and promoting macroalgae. Although most reefs are still net accreting, some reefs in marginal locations and high latitudes have started to dissolve in winter. The future integrity of GBR reefs under increasing ocean acidification will depend on their specific biophysical properties, and effective mitigation of the cumulative stressors from nutrient pollution. Unlike a clean-up of water quality, OA is irreversible on time scales of thousands of years, and there is no latitudinal escape, re-emphasising the imperative for rapid action on atmospheric CO₂ pollution.

Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, the ocean has become increasingly acidic due to uptake of atmospheric CO2. There is an urgent need for in situ pH measurements to provide a high spatial and temporal resolution. However, today’s ship-based measurements cannot achieve this. While the introduction of intelligent and low-cost autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) provide the platform to obtain the data, the development of small, reliable pH sensors for deployment on these smaller AUV’s lags behind. ANB Sensors Ltd have identified and filed patents for a disruptive, enabling technology which allows for pH measurement in demanding aqueous media. ANB is running an INNOVATE UK funded project to translate its sensing technology into a system suitable for AUV deployment. This presentation highlights the solid state chemistry behind the concept, details results from recent field trials, and shows how the sensing technology is being adapted to AUV systems for trials.