Ocean Protector is a new online game-based learning program to teach middle school students about the impacts of ocean acidification (OA) and positive actions to help. Thanks to funding from the NOAA OAP Education mini-grant, the game was developed collaboratively with educators to deliver a digital program that is engaging, easy to use, and integrates NOAA data into a framework that aligns with Next Generation Science Standards. Students begin the game by learning about OA and selecting a character role, such as marine park manager, fishing boat captain, or ocean tour guide. Students then evaluate and select decisions for how to reduce OA impacts on their character and marine life. After each decision the game updates dynamically and students analyze how their actions influenced OA impacts using data and their learned knowledge. Ultimately, this decision-driven process helps foster student-centered learning and ocean literacy, including with students from inland communities. Ocean Protector and associated lesson-plans are released freely online at https://www.outreachgames.org/OceanPr…. The presentation will detail the design structure, game details/usability, and educator resources along with lessons learned from the entire development process.
The role of action plans in tackling a mounting ocean crisis
INTRODUCTION
The world is waking up to the threat that ocean acidification (OA)—a rise in the acidity of seawater caused by excess carbon dioxide entering it from the atmosphere—poses to marine ecosystems and to the coastal economies that depend on them. Since OA’s damaging effects on shellfish were first documented 15 years ago, research organisations have mobilised to collect, on an ongoing basis, huge volumes of OA-related data from the world’s oceans. Based on those data, as well as data gathered in coastal areas, scientists have published a wealth of studies examining the causes and effects of OA.
Environmental advocacy groups championing ocean health, charitable foundations and intergovernmental organisations have built on this work to raise global awareness of OA, fund wider research into it and prod governments around the world to take concrete actions to combat it.
Pacific pioneers: Setting the global standard for OA
National action plans are highly desirable, but it is state governments on the US Pacific coast that have set the standard of OA action for the rest of the world to follow.
Governments, however, have been slow to rise to this challenge. Although many have voiced concerns about OA and expressed an intention to fight it through international mechanisms, at the time of writing less than a dozen have published dedicated action plans. These document specific measures governments will take—or are taking—to advance understanding and the domestic response to OA.
The experts we interviewed for this report are strong advocates for OA action plans. Measures to address OA have a vital place in wider climate change and other marine management initiatives, but a dedicated OA plan stands a better chance of cementing the ambition and commitment of a country, region or locality to actively address localised manifestations of OA and turn back the tide. And while some non-government organisations (NGOs) and science institutions have issued OA action plans of their own, none will carry as much weight as those led by governments.
National action plans are highly desirable, but it is state governments on the US Pacific coast that have set the standard of OA action for the rest of the world to follow. It is here that scientists first registered the deadly impacts of OA on marine life and the threat to coastal economies and jobs. That emergency and follow-on research findings led governments in the region to commit unequivocally to combat OA with the help of dedicated, detailed and well-resourced action plans.
In examining governments’ and other entities’ progress on mobilising against OA, this report finds that existing North American action plans offer useful examples and insights for other jurisdictions. Far from all governments will be able to base their plans on the same depth of research or call on the same resources to draft them. But by including in their plans elements such as a vision of success, timelines, assignment of ownership, and a mandate for periodic review and updating, governments can call upon more resources and put their OA action plans on a firm footing.
WHY ACTION IS VITAL
Ocean acidification is a growing threat to many forms of marine life and to the communities that rely on them for food, jobs and economic wellbeing. OA is a direct result of the growing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions generated by human activity. Up to 30% of carbon released into the atmosphere each year is absorbed by the ocean, which helps to mitigate global warming. But the ocean’s ability to sequester carbon cannot keep pace with rising emission volumes.1 The result is a decline in the pH level of seawater and a rise in its acidity.
…
Report citation: Turner J., Braby C., Findlay H., Widdicombe S., Kobayashi M. & Fujii M., 2023. Ocean acidification: time for action. The role of action plans in tackling a mounting ocean crisis. Back to Blue, Economist Impact, The Nippon Foundation. Report.
In this episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast, host Andrew Lewin discusses the often overlooked consequence of climate change: ocean acidification. He explains what ocean acidification is, its impact on the oceans, and explores potential solutions. This important issue is rarely discussed in the media, making it crucial for listeners to be informed and take action.
In this episode, the host discusses the significance of utilizing alternative modes of transportation, such as walking, cycling, or public transport, to decrease carbon emissions from cars. The host emphasizes that these alternative transportation methods not only benefit the environment but also promote personal health.
While the host acknowledges that electric vehicles (EVs) are a viable option for transportation since they don’t consume fossil fuels and therefore don’t contribute to carbon emissions, they also encourage the use of walking, cycling, or public transport. These options are not only environmentally friendly but also promote physical activity and overall well-being.
Furthermore, the host highlights the concept of reducing food miles as a means to minimize transportation-related carbon emissions. They suggest consuming locally grown foods and eating locally, as most meals in the US travel over 1,500 miles to reach consumers. By purchasing and consuming local and seasonal food, individuals can reduce the energy and CO2 emissions associated with food transportation.
Overall, the episode emphasizes the importance of utilizing alternative modes of transportation, such as walking, cycling, or public transport, to reduce carbon emissions from cars. It also promotes the idea of eating locally and consuming locally grown foods to minimize transportation-related carbon emissions.
In this episode, the host emphasizes the significance of eating locally grown foods as a way to reduce the transportation of food and the associated carbon emissions. The host explains that most meals in the US travel over 1,500 miles to reach our plates, and this transportation by road, rail, or air consumes energy and releases CO2, with air freight being the most polluting. By choosing to eat locally, such as shopping at farmer’s markets or local groceries, individuals can significantly reduce the distance that food needs to travel.
The temporal variation of the carbonate system, air-sea CO2 fluxes and pH is analyzed in the Southern Indian Ocean, south of the Polar Front, based on in-situ data obtained from 1985 to 2021 at a fixed station (50°40’S–68°25’E) and results from a neural network model that reconstructs the fugacity of CO2 (fCO2) and fluxes at monthly scale. Anthropogenic CO2 (Cant) was estimated in the water column and detected down to the bottom (1600 m) in 1985 resulting in an aragonite saturation horizon at 600 m that migrated up to 400 m in 2021 due to the accumulation of Cant. In subsurface, the trend of Cant is estimated at +0.53 (±0.01) µmol.kg-1.yr-1 with a detectable increase in recent years. At the surface during austral winter the oceanic fCO2 increased at a rate close or slightly lower than in the atmosphere. To the contrary, in summer, we observed contrasting fCO2 and dissolved inorganic carbon (CT) trends depending on the decade and emphasizing the role of biological drivers on air-sea CO2 fluxes and pH inter-annual variability. The region moved from an annual source of 0.8 molC.m-2.yr-1 in 1985 to a sink of -0.5 molC.m-2.yr-1 in 2020. In 1985–2020, the annual pH trend in surface of -0.0165 (± 0.0040).decade-1 was mainly controlled by anthropogenic CO2 but the trend was modulated by natural processes. Using historical data from November 1962 we estimated the long-term trend for fCO2, CT and pH confirming that the progressive acidification was driven by atmospheric CO2 increase. In 59 years this leads to a diminution of 11 % for both aragonite and calcite saturation state. As atmospheric CO2 will desperately continue rising in the future, the pH and carbonate saturation state will decrease at a faster rate than observed in recent years. A projection of future CT concentrations for a high emission scenario (SSP5-8.5) indicates that the surface pH in 2100 would decrease to 7.32 in winter. This is up to -0.86 lower than pre-industrial pH and -0.71 lower than pH observed in 2020. The aragonite under-saturation in surface waters would be reached as soon as 2050 (scenario SSP5-8.5) and 20 years later for a stabilization scenario (SSP2-4.5) with potential impacts on phytoplankton species and higher trophic levels in the rich ecosystems of the Kerguelen Island area.
Multiple stressors co-occurring in coastal waters are of increasing concern to local fisheries. Many economically, culturally, or ecologically important species (e.g., oysters, crabs, pteropods) in the Pacific Northwest are already directly affected by ocean acidification (OA), warming, and hypoxia. Additional indirect economic impacts on the finfish industry are possible due to losses of prey species. Because of strong seasonal and interannual variations in ocean conditions, capability for predicting degrees of acidification and hypoxia, as well as relevant indices of impact for species of interest, could be of considerable benefit to managers. Over the past 10 years, we have developed a seasonal ocean prediction system, JISAO’s Seasonal Coastal Ocean Prediction of the Ecosystem (J-SCOPE), for the coastal waters of the Pacific Northwest. The goal has been to provide seasonal (six-month) predictions of ocean conditions that are testable and relevant to management decisions regarding fisheries, protected species, and ecosystem health. The results of this work include publicly available seasonal forecasts of OA variables, hypoxia, temperature, and ecological indicators that are tailored for decision-makers involved in federal, international, state, and tribal fisheries. We co-designed J-SCOPE model products with state and tribal managers, and now federal managers at the Pacific Fishery Management Council receive J-SCOPE forecasts of OA and hypoxia within their annual Ecosystem Status Reports. US and Canadian managers of Pacific hake (Merluccius productus) are now briefed on J-SCOPE-driven forecasts of hake distribution. Most recently, new ocean acidification indices specific to Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister) have been co-produced with state and tribal managers. In each of these cases, the team has also investigated the sources of skill in forecasting ocean conditions to assess applicability of the forecasts to the variables, depths, and seasons relevant to these high-value fisheries. Observations from NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory and other regional partners have provided critical validation of model performance throughout the model development process. We offer a retrospective look at the first 10 years of forecasting to provide perspective on its successes and limitations, and the potential global applicability of seasonal forecasting to inform flexible management responses to rapidly changing climate and ocean conditions.
A view from Point Grenville on the Quinault Indian Nation reservation where the Quinault Indian Nation has lived and harvested marine resources since time immemorial. Quinault beaches are closed to non-tribal members and require permission to access. Photo credit: Jeannette E. Waddell.
Coral reefs may experience lower pH values as a result of ocean acidification (OA), which has negative consequences, particularly for calcifying organisms. Thus far, the effects of this global factor have been mainly investigated on hard corals, while the effects on soft corals remain relatively understudied. We therefore carried out a manipulative aquarium experiment for 21 days to study the response of the widespread pulsating soft coral Xenia umbellata to simulated OA conditions. We gradually decreased the pH from ambient (~8.3) to three consecutive 7-day long pH treatments of 8.0, 7.8, and 7.6, using a CO2 dosing system. Monitored response variables included pulsation rate, specific growth rate, visual coloration, survival, Symbiodiniaceae cell densities and chlorophyll a content, photosynthesis and respiration, and finally stable isotopes of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) as well as CN content. Pulsation decreased compared to controls with each consecutive lowering of the pH, i.e., 17% at pH 8.0, 26% at pH 7.8 and 32% at pH 7.6, accompanied by an initial decrease in growth rates of ~60% at pH 8.0, not decreasing further at lower pH. An 8.3 ‰ decrease of δ13C confirmed that OA exposed colonies had a higher uptake and availability of atmospheric CO2. Coral productivity, i.e., photosynthesis, was not affected by higher dissolved inorganic C availability and none of the remaining response variables showed any significant differences. Our findings suggest that pulsation is a phenotypically plastic mechanism for X. umbellata to adjust to different pH values, resulting in reduced growth rates only, while maintaining high productivity. Consequently, pulsation may allow X. umbellata to inhabit a broad pH range with minimal effects on its overall health. This resilience may contribute to the competitive advantage that soft corals, particularly X. umbellata, have over hard corals.
This webinar is the third in a new series entitled Conversations on Ocean Carbon: A U.S. West Coast and Alaska Perspective, co-organized by the California Ocean Science Trust, California Current Acidification Network, and Alaska Ocean Acidification Network to deliver the best available information on marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) and to explore concepts related to coastal ocean carbon. This webinar series is intended to create a direct dialogue among industry members, tribes, natural resource managers and scientists within the California Current and Alaska Ecosystems. Through these co-designed webinars, participants will gain a better understanding of mCDR technologies, limitations, risks, and learn how to become engaged.
This webinar will provide an overview of ocean alkalinity enhancement, how it works, why it’s receiving attention as a marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) strategy, and potential impacts being studied.
Position Summary: The Oceanography Department of the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) seeks applications from exceptional candidates for a tenure-track faculty position that comes with 9-months annual support from the State of Alaska. We invite applicants who will further the mission of the Department and College by adding depth to our research programs and course offerings. Applications are especially encouraged from individuals working in chemical, biological, fisheries, or geological oceanography, or in closely-related fields of expertise. These appointments are intended to be at the rank of Assistant Professor. The position will be located in Fairbanks, Alaska.
…
CFOS offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Oceanography, Marine Biology and Fisheries, as well as a B.S. in Fisheries and Marine Sciences, a B.A. in Fisheries, Minors in Marine Science and Fisheries, Master of Marine Policy, Master of Marine Studies and Blue MBA degree programs. The UAF campus houses the Ocean Acidification Research Center, the Nutrient Analytical Facility, the Alaska Stable Isotope Facility, a Multi-Collector ICP-MS, the Advanced Instrumentation Laboratory (AIL), and the Genomics Core Laboratory. CFOS coastal facilities include the Seward Marine Center, which operates the ice-capable Global-Class R/V Sikuliaq, the NOAA-UAF Kasitsna Bay Laboratory, and the Lena Point Fisheries Facility. CFOS has over 100 faculty, researchers and staff based throughout Alaska, more than 100 graduate students engaged in thesis research in Alaska waters and throughout the world, and a growing undergraduate degree program.
…
To thrive in this role, candidates must have the ability to teach core courses and/or develop new specialty oceanography courses for the graduate and undergraduate academic programs. They must also have the ability to develop a robust externally-funded research program and demonstrate a strong research and publication record appropriate to a candidate’s experience and date of degree. Candidates will be expected to undertake public and University service activities. Experience effectively mentoring graduate and undergraduate students is highly desirable. Individuals who collaborate with colleagues in other disciplines and institutions will flourish in CFOS.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Although not limited to the following disciplinary foci, expertise is sought in one or more of the following areas: marine biogeochemistry, fisheries acoustics, geological processes, satellite oceanography, ecological/ecosystem modeling. • Prior experience working with resource management agencies, coastal communities, and/or Tribal organizations. • Post-doctoral and teaching experience is highly desirable.
Within the program “Ecosystems of the Siberian Arctic Seas,” carried out by Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences since 2007, studies of the water structure and spatial variability of the parameters of the carbonate system have been performed, and the intensity and direction of the carbon dioxide flux over the continental slope of the Laptev Sea and in the Vilkitsky Strait in September 2018 have been calculated. The presence of several main water masses that govern the water structure in the study area is shown. A strong spatial variability of the parameters of the carbonate system of seawater, determined by complexes of physical and chemical–biological processes, has been revealed. The intensity and direction of the carbon dioxide flux at the water–atmosphere boundary were calculated, which range from –12 to 4 mmol m–2 day–1. It was revealed that the investigated area of the outer shelf and continental slope of the Laptev Sea is an emitter of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as of September 2018. Conversely, the area of the Vilkitsky Strait, is a CO2 sink zone.
Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of ocean acidification on coral reefs and the marine ecosystems in phillipines
Methodology: The study adopted a desktop methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library
Findings: Ocean acidification reduces the density and growth of coral skeletons, making them more vulnerable to erosion. This threatens coral reefs and the marine life that depends on them. It also affects human benefits from coral reefs, such as fisheries, tourism and storm protection.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Theory of Ocean Acidification and Coral Calcification, Theory of Ocean Acidification and Biodiversity Loss and Theory of Adaptation and Resilience of Coral Reefs may be used to anchor future studies on impact of ocean acidification on coral reefs and the marine ecosystems in Philippines. Philippine government should actively participate in global climate agreements and implement policies to reduce carbon emissions at the domestic level. The Philippine government should integrate ocean acidification considerations into national environmental policies and action plans, such as the Philippine Coral Reef Protection Program.
Long-term ocean time series have proven to be the most robust approach for direct observation of climate change processes such as Ocean Acidification. The California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) program has collected quarterly samples for seawater inorganic carbon since 1983. The longest time series is at CalCOFI line 90 station 90 from 1984–present, with a gap from 2002 to 2008. Here we present the first analysis of this 37- year time series, the oldest in the Pacific. Station 90.90 exhibits an unambiguous acidification signal in agreement with the global surface ocean (decrease in pH of −0.0015 ± 0.0001 yr−1), with a distinct seasonal cycle driven by temperature and total dissolved inorganic carbon. This provides direct evidence that the unique carbon chemistry signature (compared to other long standing time series) results in a reduced uptake rate of carbon dioxide (CO2) due to proximity to a mid-latitude eastern boundary current upwelling zone. Comparison to an independent empirical model estimate and climatology at the same location reveals regional differences not captured in the existing models.
Mutualistic interactions, which constitute some of the most advantageous interactions among fish species, are highly vulnerable to environmental changes. A key mutualistic interaction is the cleaning service rendered by the cleaner wrasse, Labroides dimidiatus, which involves intricate processes of social behaviour to remove ectoparasites from client fish and can be altered in near-future environmental conditions. Here, we evaluated the neuromolecular mechanisms behind the behavioural disruption of cleaning interactions in response to future environments. We subjected cleaner wrasses and surgeonfish (Acanthurus leucosternon, serving as clients) to elevated temperature (warming, 32 °C), increased levels of CO2 (high CO2, 1000 ppm), and a combined condition of elevated CO2 and temperature (warming and high CO2, 32 °C, and 1000 ppm) for 28 days.
Results
Each of these conditions resulted in behavioural disruptions concerning the motivation to interact and the quality of interaction (high CO2 − 80.7%, warming − 92.6%, warming and high CO2 − 79.5%, p < 0.001). Using transcriptomics of the fore-, mid-, and hindbrain, we discovered that most transcriptional reprogramming in both species under warming conditions occurred primarily in the hind- and forebrain. The associated functions under warming were linked to stress, heat shock proteins, hypoxia, and behaviour. In contrast, elevated CO2 exposure affected a range of functions associated with GABA, behaviour, visual perception, thyroid hormones and circadian rhythm. Interestingly, in the combined warming and high CO2 condition, we did not observe any expression changes of behaviour. However, we did find signs of endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis, suggesting not only an additive effect of the environmental conditions but also a trade-off between physiological performance and behaviour in the cleaner wrasse.
Conclusions
We show that impending environmental shifts can affect the behaviour and molecular processes that sustain mutualistic interactions between L. dimidiatus and its clients, which could have a cascading effect on their adaptation potential and possibly cause large-scale impacts on coral reef ecosystems.
Next review date: Friday, Dec 22, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Monday, Sep 30, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description:
The Free Lab at the University of California, Santa Barbara is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to support a NOAA Multi-Stressor Grant-funded project aiming to understand the joint impacts of warming, hypoxia, acidification, and harmful algal blooms on Dungeness crab, which supports the US West Coast’s most valuable commercial fishery, and to design climate-resilient management of the crab fishery. The project team includes 18 scientists from eight institutions with disciplinary expertise spanning oceanography, physiology, and population dynamics and is advised by tribal, industry, and agency stakeholders to ensure that our science is relevant, useful, and impactful.
The overall project seeks to: (1) synthesize extensive region-wide observations of ocean acidification, hypoxia, harmful algal blooms, and heat waves; (2) adapt ocean models to forecast changes in these stressors; and (3) use field and lab studies to parameterize the sensitivity of Dungeness crabs to these stressors. Ultimately, these activities will inform (4) a management strategy evaluation to assess the ability of different fishery management strategies to support a healthy crab fishery in a changing ocean.
The postdoctoral researcher will lead the development of the climate-linked management strategy evaluation model (Project Goal 4). The management strategy evaluation model will leverage detailed fisheries-dependent data from California, Oregon, and Washington and a modeling framework developed by Free et al. (2023). The postdoctoral researcher will lead the publication of the model and its results in a scientific journal.
The ocean absorbs more than 25% of the carbon dioxide humans release into the atmosphere, which lowers the seawater pH, known as ocean acidification. Natalie Monacci (UAF) discusses monitoring projects that aid in the projections of more acidic seawater conditions that stakeholders can use to support Alaska’s culture, fisheries, and blue economy. Natalie works for the University of Alaska Fairbank’s Ocean Acidification Research Center.
The ocean acidification 1 (OA1) mooring, located just offshore of Hopkins Marine Station and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, was initially deployed in 2012. Sensors on the mooring measure ocean biogeochemical and physical properties over time, including water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll fluorescence, pH, and pCO2 both in air and just below the surface. A meteorological sensor package provides measurements of wind speed and direction, air temperature, and air pressure. In 2014 an acoustic receiver was deployed as part of a collaborative project to monitor movements of tagged marine animals.
The data collected from this and other moorings near Monterey Bay are analyzed by oceanographers and marine scientists to study processes such as coastal upwelling, ocean acidification, hypoxia, and climate variability and change.
NOAA has awarded $1,793,983 of an anticipated four-year, $4.2 million project to support research on multi-stressor impacts on marine ecosystems under climate change. The newly funded project, co-led by NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory and the University of Miami Rosenstiel School, will focus on climate impacts to South Florida’s coastal and marine ecosystems, including the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and the southwest Florida Shelf.
South Florida’s coastal and marine ecosystems provide critical ecosystem services to the Nation, supporting recreation and tourism, and generating billions of dollars for the economy and tens of thousands of jobs annually. The well-being of over six million people in Florida’s coastal counties depend on these ecosystems. Past and current research efforts and programs typically have focused on understanding the impact of single stressors on species and ecosystems. Unfortunately, these ecosystems are beset by a myriad of stressors, including ocean acidification, hypoxia, harmful algal blooms (HABs), increasing water temperatures, and eutrophication. Understanding the impacts and relationships among these multiple stressors remains elusive, yet critical to understanding stressors’ interactions and predicting future impacts to ecosystems in South Florida.
One of the seven iconic reef sites, Cheeca Rocks, is dominated by large populations of star corals and other boulder corals. Credit: FKNMS/NOAA
The goal of this project is to assess how five key stressors (ocean acidification, hypoxia, HABs, increased ocean temperatures, and eutrophication) are impacting South Florida’s coastal and marine ecosystems, and to characterize the impacts of these stressors under present and future climate change scenarios, as well as Everglades, seagrass, and coral reef restoration scenarios, including Mission: Iconic Reefs. Resource managers will use these products to prepare for the anticipated impacts of climate change by increasing their understanding as to how multiple stressors are likely to interact and affect these ecosystems and the communities dependent on them.
This award is supported by Fiscal Year 2023 funding from NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Ocean Acidification Program (OAP), the Climate Program Office (CPO), and the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Office, in partnership with the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS).
(Image credit: Philip Kulisev/Monaco Explorations)
Small but Mighty
“One single BGC float is like a tiny research vessel that will operate autonomously for five to six years and send its data every 10 days,” Hervé Claustre says. A float also costs a lot less than the simplest and shortest research vessel campaign. On top of the temperature and salinity sensors already found on Core Argo floats, a BGC Argo float carries six additional sensors for sampling oxygen, pH, nitrates, chlorophyll, suspended particles, and light.
A BGC float and the six biogeochemical parameters. (Image credit: ERC REFINE)
“The idea is to understand how climate change impacts marine ecosystems, their biodiversity, and functioning,” explains Emanuele Organelli, a marine ecology researcher from the Italian National Research Council (CNR), working today for Argo Italy, a member of the Euro-Argo consortium. Dramatic changes in marine ecosystems have repercussions on living marine resources, such as fisheries all around the world. By better understanding global marine ecosystems, scientists can better advise policymakers on the urgent actions needed to anticipate and mitigate these potentially dramatic effects on marine resources.
A Suite Sensors
The BGC floats provide the tools to collect a wide array of key data for marine ecology. Oxygen sensors can detect regions where oxygen is scarce. As the oceans are getting warmer, their circulation is getting weaker. Consequently, there are fewer exchanges between oceans and the atmosphere and less oxygen entering oceans in certain areas. pH sensors can measure ocean acidification. The excess carbon dioxide from human activity is absorbed by the oceans and transforms into acid via a chemical reaction in the water. This phenomenon has dire consequences for marine life.
Nitrates, chlorophyll, and light sensors are used to monitor phytoplankton, microscopic marine algae. It is an essential component of the food chain: phytoplankton is consumed by zooplankton, microscopic drifting animals, and zooplankton is the main food source of small fish and other marine animals. Moreover, the quantity and types of phytoplankton thriving in one region give a lot of information about the local ecosystem. Each type, or community, of phytoplankton modifies the intensity and color of marine lightscapes.
…
With light sensors, scientists can identify these colors and study the diversity of such communities. Scientists can also assess phytoplankton biomass in a particular area by measuring chlorophyll and suspended particles in the water. In the long run, they should be able to deduce the distribution of phytoplankton communities all around the planet. That, in turn, will help them assess how healthy marine ecosystems are and how sustainable the harvest of living marine resources is in different regions of the planet.
Ocean acidification (OA) is the consequence of the uptake of excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Along the coastal zone, ocean acidification is influenced by other processes such as biology and currents, leading to high levels of natural variability in pH. While the impact of pH on marine organisms is better resolved, the modulating role of this natural variability is poorly understood. This master’s thesis aimed at evaluating diel pH fluctuations using the larval stages of the brittle star Amphiura filiformis. Results revealed the importance of acknowledging pH variations with individuals exhibiting higher fitness. Diel analyses also underscored the existence of an intrinsic circadian cycle where larvae would grow more during the daytime than nighttime, possibly explained by better conditions encountered during the day. In addition, we demonstrated a carryover effect that could also be associated with a stage sensitivity. We suggest that future studies should integrate natural variations and delve into the different species’ adaptations as they have an important role in the biological responses to upcoming OA.
NOAA Ship Fairweather and National Data Buoy Center Station 46041 deployed off Cape Elizabeth, Washington. The weather buoy has been measuring air-sea CO2 since 2006. Photo credit: Richard Feely
For over two decades, NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) has been developing and deploying autonomous ocean carbon measurement technologies. PMEL currently maintains a network of air-sea CO2 and ocean acidification time-series measurements on 33 surface buoys, including the world’s longest record of air-sea CO2 measured from a buoy. These sites are located in every ocean basin and in a variety of ecosystems, from coastal to open ocean and subpolar to tropical. The network provides more than half of today’s ocean carbonate chemistry time-series records that qualify as long-term, publicly available, and collected at subseasonal timescales. Here, we briefly review the motivation for establishing the network, the research and applications made possible from the observations, and how sustained autonomous time series generate unique information about a changing ocean needed to inform mitigation and adaptation approaches in a changing world.
Global climate change will cause coral reefs decline and is expected to increase the reef erosion potential of bioeroding sponges. Microbial symbionts are essential for the overall fitness and survival of sponge holobionts in changing ocean environments. However, we rarely know about the impacts of ocean warming and acidification on bioeroding sponge microbiome. Here, the structural and functional changes of the bioeroding sponge Spheciospongia vesparium microbiome, as well as its recovery potential, were investigated at the RNA level in a laboratory system simulating 32 °C and pH 7.7. Based on metatranscriptome analysis, acidification showed no significant impact, while warming or simultaneous warming and acidification disrupted the sponge microbiome. Warming caused microbial dysbiosis and recruited potentially opportunistic and pathogenic members of Nesiotobacter, Oceanospirillaceae, Deltaproteobacteria, Epsilonproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. Moreover, warming disrupted nutrient exchange and molecular interactions in the sponge holobiont, accompanied by stimulation of virulence activity and anaerobic metabolism including denitrification and dissimilatory reduction of nitrate and sulfate to promote sponge necrosis. Particularly, the interaction between acidification and warming alleviated the negative effects of warming and enhanced the Rhodobacteraceae-driven ethylmalonyl-CoA pathway and sulfur-oxidizing multienzyme system. The microbiome could not recover during the experiment period after warming or combined stress was removed. This study suggests that warming or combined warming and acidification will irreversibly destabilize the S. vesparium microbial community structure and function, and provides insight into the molecular mechanisms of the interactive effects of acidification and warming on the sponge microbiome.
