Atmospheric deposition of pollutants decreases pH and increases the nutrient concentration in the surface water. To examine its impact on coastal phytoplankton composition and primary production, monthly atmospheric aerosol samples were mixed with coastal waters in the microcosm experiments. These experiments suggested that the biomass of Bacillariophyceae, Dinophyceae and Chlorophyceae were increased and primary production of the coastal waters increased by 3 to 19% due to the addition of aeolian nutrients. The increase in primary production displayed significant relation with a concentration of sulphate and nitrate in the atmospheric aerosols suggesting that both decreases in pH and fertilization enhanced primary production. The impact of acidification on primary production was found to be 22%, whereas 78% was contributed by the nutrient increase. The atmospheric pollution is increasing rapidly over the northern Indian Ocean since past two decades due to rapid industrialization. Hence, it is suggested that the impact of atmospheric pollution on the coastal ecosystem must be included in the numerical models to predict possible changes in the coastal ecosystem due to climate change.
Continue reading ‘Impact of atmospheric dry deposition of nutrients on phytoplankton pigment composition and primary production in the coastal Bay of Bengal’Posts Tagged 'nutrients'
Impact of atmospheric dry deposition of nutrients on phytoplankton pigment composition and primary production in the coastal Bay of Bengal
Published 29 June 2022 Science ClosedTags: biological response, BRcommunity, community composition, field, Indian, mesocosms, morphology, multiple factors, nutrients, photosynthesis, phytoplankton, primary production, toxicants
Systematic review and meta-analysis of ocean acidification effects in Halimeda: implications for algal carbonate production
Published 24 June 2022 Science ClosedTags: algae, biological response, calcification, light, morphology, multiple factors, nutrients, physiology, review, temperature
Highlights
- Calcification responses to OA vary widely among Halimeda species (neutral, negative).
- For some species, these responses also seem to be region-dependent.
- Experimental evidence suggests future declines in Halimeda-derived CaCO3 production.
- Occurrence and magnitude of declines will be determined by community composition.
Abstract
Ocean acidification (OA) has been identified as one of the major climate-change related threats, mainly due to its significant impacts on marine calcifiers. Among those are the calcareous green algae of the genus Halimeda that are known to be major carbonate producers in shallow tropical and subtropical seas. Hence, any negative OA impacts on these organisms may translate into significant declines in regional and global carbonate production. In this study, we compiled the available information regarding Halimeda spp. responses to OA (experimental, in situ), with special focus on the calcification responses, one of the most studied response parameters in this group. Furthermore, among the compiled studies (n = 31), we selected those reporting quantitative data of OA effects on algal net calcification in an attempt to identify potential general patterns of species- and/or regional-specific OA responses and hence, impacts on carbonate production. While obtaining general patterns was largely hampered by the often scarce number of studies on individual species and/or regions, the currently available information indicates species-specific susceptibility to OA, seemingly unrelated to evolutionary lineages (and associated differences in morphology), that is often accompanied by differences in a species’ response across different regions. Thus, for projections of future declines in Halimeda-associated carbonate production, we used available regional reports of species-specific carbonate production in conjunction with experimental OA responses for the respective species and regions. Based on the available information, declines can be expected worldwide, though some regions harbouring more sensitive species might be more impacted than others.
Continue reading ‘Systematic review and meta-analysis of ocean acidification effects in Halimeda: implications for algal carbonate production’The Mediterranean Rhodes gyre: modelled impacts of climate change, acidification and fishing
Published 10 June 2022 Science ClosedTags: fisheries, Mediterranean, modeling, multiple factors, nutrients, regionalmodeling, salinity, temperature
The Mediterranean Rhodes gyre is a cyclonic gyre with high primary production due to local upwelling of nutrients, and occasional deep overturning up to 1km depth. This nutrient-rich state is in sharp contrast to other parts of the Eastern Mediterranean which are oligotrophic. Here we study the upwelling system central to the Rhodes gyre and the impact of different stressors like meteorological changes, acidification and fishing pressure up to the year 2100. A water column model spanning the physical, chemical and biological system up to top predators (GOTM-ERSEM-BFM-EwE) was used to simulate the pelagic environment under single and combined stressors. Results show that due to increasing winter temperatures deep overturning events are becoming more rare in the future, until they stop occurring around 2060 under the business-as-usual climate scenario (RCP8.5). Stratification becomes stronger as temperature effects outweigh salinity effects in the surface mixed layer. Together with the lack of deep overturning this limits the nutrient supply to the euphotic zone, significantly reducing primary production. Phytoplankton species shift towards smaller species as nutrients become more scarce, mimicking the situation found currently on the edge of the gyre. Climatic changes and fishing pressure affected higher trophic levels in an additive way for some species (sardines, dolphins), while in a synergistic way for others (anchovy, mackerel). Acidification impacts were negligible. Fish stocks reduced significantly under the 2 climate scenarios considered: ~30% under RCP4.5 and ~40% under RCP8.5, with limited beneficial impact of MSY-level fishing, indicating a need for mitigating measures beyond fleet control.
Continue reading ‘The Mediterranean Rhodes gyre: modelled impacts of climate change, acidification and fishing’Synergistic promoting effect of increasing aquatic ammonium and CO2 on Microcystis aeruginosa
Published 8 June 2022 Science ClosedTags: biological response, laboratory, light, morphology, multiple factors, nutrients, photosynthesis, physiology, prokaryotes
Highlights
- NO3－-grown M. aeruginosa more prone to accumulate C-rich products.
- As CO2 increased, shift from NO3－ to NH4+ led to greater increases in Chl a.
- Elevated CO2 reduced ROS of NH4+ -grown M. aeruginosa under suitable light.
- Under strong light, elevated CO2 greatly increased ROS in NO3－-grown M. aeruginosa.
- Under strong light, only NH4+-grown M. aeruginosa showed improved growth as CO2 rose.
Abstract
Owing to climate change and intensive agricultural development, freshwater bodies have been affected by increases in both CO2 levels and chemically-reduced forms of N. However, little is known about how these changes affect cyanobacterial growth and blooms. This study explored a range of light conditions (30, 80, 130, or 200 μmol photons/m2/s) wherein Microcystis aeruginosa, a widespread bloom-forming species, was exposed to different concentrations of CO2 (400 parts per million (ppm) and 1000 ppm) in a medium containing NH4+ or NO3－. The interactive effects of N sources and CO2 levels on the C/N metabolic balance and energy balance were examined to assess changes in the growth of M. aeruginosa. When the light intensity was 80 μmol photons/m2/s, elevated CO2 could reduce intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in NH4+-grown M. aeruginosa. Meanwhile, cell density and chlorophyll a (Chl a) increased with increasing CO2 levels, and the increase in Chl a was significantly greater in NH4+-grown M. aeruginosa than in NO3－-grown M. aeruginosa. Under light conditions of 200 μmol photons/m2/s, elevated CO2 concentration caused NO3－-grown M. aeruginosa to be affected by a large amount of ROS, and the growth of NO3－-grown M. aeruginosa was finally suppressed. However, NH4+-grown M. aeruginosa had a smaller amount of ROS and showed improved growth as CO2 was elevated. This difference can be attributed to the faster metabolic pathways in the NH4+ environment, which manifested in a lower accumulation of 2-oxoglutarate and fatty acids as CO2 was elevated. These findings suggest that the simultaneous increase in ammonium and CO2 in aquatic ecosystems confers cyanobacteria with greater advantages than the combination of nitrate and CO2, which may aggravate cyanobacterial blooms.
Continue reading ‘Synergistic promoting effect of increasing aquatic ammonium and CO2 on Microcystis aeruginosa’Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) and dimethyl sulfide (DMS) dynamics in the surface ocean
Published 24 May 2022 Science ClosedTags: biogeochemistry, chemistry, community composition, field, mesocosms, methods, multiple factors, nutrients, otherprocess, photosynthesis, phytoplankton, South Pacific, temperature
Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is a trace gas produced in the ocean that plays an important role in climate and contributes to the Earths energy balance. DMS is a product of the enzymatic cleavage of dimethyl sulfoniopropionate (DMSP), which is produced by certain phytoplankton species and bacteria. Processes within the DMS/P cycles in the surface ocean are complex and vary with time and space. In the sea surface microlayer (SML), which is the interface between the ocean and the atmosphere, DMS concentration may be altered relative to subsurface water (SSW), by elevated biological activity, light intensity, and gas exchange. The aim of this thesis is to determine the importance of the SML in DMS/P dynamics and air-sea exchange by developing a more robust technique for SML sampling to better understand the dynamics of DMSP and DMS, and comparing their dynamics in the SML and SSW in coastal waters and the open ocean. In addition, the impact of warming and ocean acidification on DMS/P dynamics is investigated to determine how they will be impacted by future climate change.
To characterize DMS dynamics in the SML, a more effective method for sampling trace gases in the SML was developed (Chapter 2). The method is reliant on diffusion through a gas-permeable tube due to the concentration gradient. The floating tube was tested and calibrated under semi-controlled conditions using coastal water, where its reproducibility, accuracy and effectiveness were established. The potential benefits of this new technique for sampling trace gases in the SML include reduced loss of DMS to air. The higher reproducibility and accuracy compared to other techniques confirmed the potential of the floating tube technique for trace gas measurement in the SML.
The method developed in Chapter 2 was applied in sampling of DMS in the SML along a coastal-open ocean gradient (Chapter 3), and in various water masses of the open ocean (Chapter 4). In both chapters, DMSP and DMS dynamics were related to biological, biogeochemical, and physical properties of the SML and SSW. Sampling was conducted over 3 months at three different stations with different degrees of coastal and open water influence around Wellington, New Zealand in Chapter 3. DMSP was significantly enriched in the SML in most sampling events and DMSP and DMS enrichments were influenced by biological production and bacterial consumption. Overall, there was no temporal trends or coastal-offshore gradient in DMS or related biogeochemical variables in the SML. However, DMS concentration, and also DMS to DMSP ratio, were significantly correlated with solar radiation indicating a role for light as a determinant of DMSP and DMS in the SML. In open ocean waters around the Chatham Rise, east of New Zealand, the SML and SSW in water masses of different phytoplankton composition and biomass were sampled (Chapter 4). There was no chlorophyll a enrichment in the SML, and bacterial and DMSP enrichment were only apparent at one station, despite sampling within a phytoplankton bloom. Furthermore, there were no relationships between DMSP and phytoplankton biomass or community composition in the SML, although DMSP was negatively correlated with PAR. DMS was only significantly enriched in the SML at one station. DMS and DMSP concentrations were correlated in both SML and SSW, with the differing slopes attributed to DMS loss in the SML. Daily deck incubations were carried out to quantify DMSP and DMS processes in the SML, including the net effect of light on DMS/P, bacterial consumption of DMS/P and DMS production, and DMS air-sea flux. Air-sea flux was the main pathway with a DMS flux of 1.0-11.0 µmol m-2 d-1 that concurs with climatological predictions for the region. Excluding air-sea emission, biological DMS production was the dominant process in the SML relative to biological consumption and the net effect of light. SML DMS yield was not significantly different to that in the SSW, and consequently processes within the SML do not significantly affect regional DMS emissions.
The impact of ocean acidification and warming on DMSP and DMS concentrations was established for New Zealand coastal waters. Four mesocosm experiments, in which temperature and pH were manipulated to values projected for the years 2100 and 2150, were carried out over three years with the initial phytoplankton community differing in composition and bloom status (Chapter 6:). Temporal changes in DMSP and DMS were established and linked to changes in community composition and biogeochemistry. Results indicate that future warming may have greater influence on DMS production than ocean acidification. The observed reduction in DMSP at warmer temperatures was associated with changes in phytoplankton community, and in particular with a decrease in small flagellates. As nutrient availability also influenced the response this should also be considered in models of future DMS. Although DMS concentration decreased under future conditions of ocean acidification and higher temperature, this decrease was not as significant as reported by other studies.
The results in this thesis contribute to a better understanding of DMSP and DMS dynamics in the surface ocean. The floating tube method developed to sample DMS in the SML, will permit the study of DMS in the SML in various oceanic regions with improved accuracy. This technique may also have potential for measuring other trace gases in the SML. Application of this technique in coastal and open ocean waters demonstrated differences in DMS dynamics in the SML between these regions. DMS enrichment in the SML was rarely found, and DMS enrichment does not affect DMS air-sea flux significantly. Biological and biogeochemical variables and DMS/P process rates need to be established to further understanding of DMS/P dynamics in the SML and near surface water. Finally, results suggest that impacts of future climate change on DMS emissions may not be as significant as reported elsewhere, but that phytoplankton community composition plays a role and must be considered in future scenario models to better predict future DMS emissions.
Continue reading ‘Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) and dimethyl sulfide (DMS) dynamics in the surface ocean’The potential of kelp Saccharina japonica in shielding Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas from elevated seawater pCO2 stress
Published 20 May 2022 Science ClosedTags: algae, biological response, BRcommunity, chemistry, community composition, field, growth, laboratory, mesocosms, mitigation, mollusks, multiple factors, North Pacific, nutrients, otherprocess, photosynthesis, physiology, respiration
Ocean acidification (OA) caused by elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration is predicted to have negative impacts on marine bivalves in aquaculture. However, to date, most of our knowledge is derived from short-term laboratory-based experiments, which are difficult to scale to real-world production. Therefore, field experiments, such as this study, are critical for improving ecological relevance. Due to the ability of seaweed to absorb dissolved carbon dioxide from the surrounding seawater through photosynthesis, seaweed has gained theoretical attention as a potential partner of bivalves in integrated aquaculture to help mitigate the adverse effects of OA. Consequently, this study investigates the impact of elevated pCO2 on the physiological responses of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas in the presence and absence of kelp (Saccharina japonica) using in situ mesocosms. For 30 days, mesocosms were exposed to six treatments, consisting of two pCO2 treatments (500 and 900 μatm) combined with three biotic treatments (oyster alone, kelp alone, and integrated kelp and oyster aquaculture). Results showed that the clearance rate (CR) and scope for growth (SfG) of C. gigas were significantly reduced by elevated pCO2, whereas respiration rates (MO2) and ammonium excretion rates (ER) were significantly increased. However, food absorption efficiency (AE) was not significantly affected by elevated pCO2. The presence of S. japonica changed the daytime pHNBS of experimental units by ~0.16 units in the elevated pCO2 treatment. As a consequence, CR and SfG significantly increased and MO2 and ER decreased compared to C. gigas exposed to elevated pCO2 without S. japonica. These findings indicate that the presence of S. japonica in integrated aquaculture may help shield C. gigas from the negative effects of elevated seawater pCO2.
Continue reading ‘The potential of kelp Saccharina japonica in shielding Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas from elevated seawater pCO2 stress’Caribbean king crab larvae and juveniles show tolerance to ocean acidification and ocean warming
Published 12 May 2022 Science ClosedTags: biological response, crustaceans, laboratory, mortality, multiple factors, North Atlantic, nutrients, reproduction, temperature
Coastal habitats are experiencing decreases in seawater pH and increases in temperature due to anthropogenic climate change. The Caribbean king crab, Maguimithrax spinosissimus, plays a vital role on Western Atlantic reefs by grazing macroalgae that competes for space with coral recruits. Therefore, identifying its tolerance to anthropogenic stressors is critically needed if this species is to be considered as a potential restoration management strategy in coral reef environments. We examined the effects of temperature (control: 28 °C and elevated: 31 °C) and pH (control: 8.0 and reduced pH: 7.7) on the king crab’s larval and early juvenile survival, molt-stage duration, and morphology in a fully crossed laboratory experiment. Survival to the megalopal stage was reduced (13.5% lower) in the combined reduced pH and elevated temperature treatment relative to the control. First-stage (J1) juveniles delayed molting by 1.5 days in the reduced pH treatment, while second-stage (J2) crabs molted 3 days earlier when exposed to elevated temperature. Juvenile morphology did not differ among treatments. These results suggests that juvenile king crabs are tolerant to changes associated with climate change. Given the important role of the king crab as a grazer of macroalgae, its tolerance to climate stressors suggests that it could benefit restoration efforts aimed at making coral reefs more resilient to increasingly warm and acidic oceans into the future.
Continue reading ‘Caribbean king crab larvae and juveniles show tolerance to ocean acidification and ocean warming’The carbon and nitrogen budget of Desmophyllum dianthus—a voracious cold-water coral thriving in an acidified Patagonian fjord
Published 12 January 2022 Science ClosedTags: biological response, corals, laboratory, multiple factors, nutrients, physiology, primary production, respiration, South Pacific
In the North Patagonian fjord region, the cold-water coral (CWC) Desmophyllum dianthus occurs in high densities, in spite of low pH and aragonite saturation. If and how these conditions affect the energy demand of the corals is so far unknown. In a laboratory experiment, we investigated the carbon and nitrogen (C, N) budget of D. dianthus from Comau Fjord under three feeding scenarios: (1) live fjord zooplankton (100–2,300 µm), (2) live fjord zooplankton plus krill (>7 mm), and (3) four-day food deprivation. In closed incubations, C and N budgets were derived from the difference between C and N uptake during feeding and subsequent C and N loss through respiration, ammonium excretion, release of particulate organic carbon and nitrogen (POC, PON). Additional feeding with krill significantly increased coral respiration (35%), excretion (131%), and POC release (67%) compared to feeding on zooplankton only. Nevertheless, the higher C and N losses were overcompensated by the threefold higher C and N uptake, indicating a high assimilation and growth efficiency for the krill plus zooplankton diet. In contrast, short food deprivation caused a substantial reduction in respiration (59%), excretion (54%), release of POC (73%) and PON (87%) compared to feeding on zooplankton, suggesting a high potential to acclimatize to food scarcity (e.g., in winter). Notwithstanding, unfed corals ‘lost’ 2% of their tissue-C and 1.2% of their tissue-N per day in terms of metabolism and released particulate organic matter (likely mucus). To balance the C (N) losses, each D. dianthus polyp has to consume around 700 (400) zooplankters per day. The capture of a single, large krill individual, however, provides enough C and N to compensate daily C and N losses and grow tissue reserves, suggesting that krill plays an important nutritional role for the fjord corals. Efficient krill and zooplankton capture, as well as dietary and metabolic flexibility, may enable D. dianthus to thrive under adverse environmental conditions in its fjord habitat; however, it is not known how combined anthropogenic warming, acidification and eutrophication jeopardize the energy balance of this important habitat-building species.
Marine macrophytes as carbon sinks: comparison between seagrasses and the non-native alga Halimeda incrassata in the Western Mediterranean (Mallorca)
Published 11 November 2021 Science ClosedTags: algae, biological response, BRcommunity, calcification, field, growth, laboratory, Mediterranean, mitigation, multiple factors, nutrients, phanerogams, physiology, respiration
Seagrass species play a critical role in the mitigation of climate change by acting as valuable carbon sinks and storage sites. Another important ecosystem service of this coastal vegetation is nutrient removal. However, coastal ecosystems are under increasing pressure of global warming and associated establishment of invasive species. To elucidate the respective contributions of seagrass species Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa and the non-native macroalga Halimeda incrassata as primary producers and nutrient sinks in coastal habitats we conducted in-situ incubations in the North-western Mediterranean Sea. Measured metabolic activity and nutrient removal as well as calcification rates in these habitats over a 24 h period in spring and summer confirmed that the endemic seagrass P. oceanica represents a valuable ecosystem with high O2 production and considerable carbon capture. The documented regression of P. oceanica meadows with higher temperatures and decline in autotrophy as measured here causes concern for the continuity of ecosystem services rendered by this habitat throughout the Mediterranean Sea with progressing climate warming. In contrast, the enhanced performance of C. nodosa and the calcifying alga H. incrassata with increasing temperatures, under expected rates of future warming is uncertain to mitigate loss of productivity in case of a potential shift in marine vegetation. This could ultimately lead to a decline in ecosystem services, decreased carbon storage and mitigation of climate change. Furthermore, this study provides a first estimate for the growth rate of H. incrassata in the Mediterranean Sea, supporting evidence for the mechanism of its rapid extension.
Continue reading ‘Marine macrophytes as carbon sinks: comparison between seagrasses and the non-native alga Halimeda incrassata in the Western Mediterranean (Mallorca)’Nutrient alteration drives the impacts of seawater acidification on the bloom-forming dinoflagellate Karenia mikimotoi
Published 25 October 2021 Science ClosedTags: biological response, growth, laboratory, multiple factors, North Pacific, nutrients, physiology, phytoplankton, toxicants
Seawater acidification and nutrient alteration are two dominant environmental factors in coastal environments that influence the dynamics and succession of marine microalgae. However, the impacts of their combination have seldom been recorded. A simulated experimental system was set up to mimic the effects of elevated acidification on a bloom-forming dinoflagellate, Karenia mikimotoi, exposed to different nutrient conditions, and the possible mechanism was discussed. The results showed that acidification at different pH levels of 7.6 or 7.4 significantly influenced microalgal growth (p<0.05) compared with the control at pH 8.0. Mitochondria, the key sites of aerobic respiration and energy production, were impaired in a pH-dependent manner, and a simultaneous alteration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production occurred. Cytochrome c oxidase (COX) and citrate synthase (CS), two mitochondrial metabolism-related enzymes, were actively induced with acidification exposure, suggesting the involvement of the mitochondrial pathway in coping with acidification. Moreover, different nutrient statuses indicated by various N:P ratios of 7:1 (N limitation) and 52:1 (P limitation) dramatically altered the impacts of acidification compared with those exposed to an N:P ratio of 17:1 (control), microalgal growth at pH 7.4 was obviously accelerated with the elevation of the nutrient ratio compared to that at pH 8.1 (p<0.05), and nutrient limitations seemed beneficial for growth in acidifying conditions. The production of alkaline phosphatase (AP) and acid phosphatase (AcP), an effective index indicating the microalgal growth status, significantly increased at the same time (p<0.05), which further supported this speculation. However, nitrate reductase (NR) was slightly inhibited. Hemolytic toxin production showed an obvious increase as the N:P ratio increased when exposed to acidification. Taken together, mitochondrial metabolism was suspected to be involved in the process of coping with acidification, and nutrient alterations, especially P limitation, could effectively alleviate the negative impacts induced by acidification. The obtained results might be a possible explanation for the competitive fitness of K. mikimotoi during bloom development.
Continue reading ‘Nutrient alteration drives the impacts of seawater acidification on the bloom-forming dinoflagellate Karenia mikimotoi’The brown algae Saccharina japonica and Sargassum horneri exhibit species-specific responses to synergistic stress of ocean acidification and eutrophication
Published 19 August 2021 Science ClosedTags: algae, biological response, laboratory, morphology, multiple factors, North Pacific, nutrients, photosynthesis, physiology, respiration
Ocean acidification and eutrophication are two important environmental stressors. They inevitably impact marine macroalgae, and hence the coastal ecosystem of China. Saccharina japonica, as the main culture species in China, is suffering the harmful golden tide caused by Sargassum horneri. However, it remains unclear whether the detrimental effects of S. horneri on S. japonica cultivation become more severe in future acidified and eutrophic scenario. In this study, we respectively investigated the effects of pCO2 (400 µatm and 1000 µatm) and nutrients (non-enriched and enriched seawater) on the growth, photosynthesis, respiration, chlorophyll contents, and tissue nitrogen of S. japonica and S. horneri. Results indicated that enrichment of nutrients contributed S. horneri to utilize HCO3−. The carbon acquisition pathway shifted from HCO3− to CO2 in S. japonica, while S. horneri remained using HCO3− regulated by nutrient enrichment. S. horneri exhibited better photosynthetic traits than S. japonica, with a higher level of net photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll contents at elevated pCO2 and enriched nutrients. Tissue nitrogen also accumulated richly in the thalli of S. horneri under higher pCO2 and nutrients. Significant enhancement in growth was only detected in S. horneri under synergistic stress. Together, S. horneri showed competitive dominance in current study. These findings suggest that increasing risk of golden tide in acidified and eutrophic ocean can most likely result in great damage to S. japonica cultivation.
Continue reading ‘The brown algae Saccharina japonica and Sargassum horneri exhibit species-specific responses to synergistic stress of ocean acidification and eutrophication’Elevated CO2 accelerated the bloom of three Ulva species after one life cycle culture
Published 11 August 2021 Science ClosedTags: algae, biological response, BRcommunity, laboratory, molecular biology, multiple factors, North Pacific, nutrients, photosynthesis, physiology
Human activities and the resulting global climate change have profound effects on ecosystems, and economic and social systems, including those dependent on the ocean. Increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO2 have led to gradual changes in the marine carbonate system. It is well known that environmental changes determine the composition and abundance of algal populations. In the present study, we evaluated the growth, photosynthesis, nutrient uptake rates, tissue C and N content, nitrate reductase activity, and nitrate transporter gene expression of Ulva prolifera, Ulva linza, and Ulva compressa exposed to 400, 1000, and 2000 ppm CO2 levels after one life cycle culture. Elevated CO2 promoted the rapid propagation of three Ulva species, which can result in the formation of a green tide. This was due to enhanced photosynthetic and respiration efficiency, reductions in energy requirements for biosynthesis and metabolism for maintaining external pH, and promotion of NO3− uptake by increased NO3− gene expression level and NO3− reductase activity.
Continue reading ‘Elevated CO2 accelerated the bloom of three Ulva species after one life cycle culture’Moderate nutrient concentrations are not detrimental to corals under future ocean conditions
Published 24 June 2021 Science ClosedTags: biological response, calcification, corals, laboratory, mitigation, multiple factors, nutrients, photosynthesis, physiology, protists, respiration, South Pacific, temperature
Under predicted future ocean conditions, reefs exposed to elevated nutrients will simultaneously experience ocean acidification and elevated temperature. We evaluated if moderate nutrients mitigate, minimize, or exacerbate negative effects of predicted future ocean conditions on coral physiology. For 30 days, Acropora millepora and Turbinaria reniformis were exposed to a fully factorial experiment of eight treatments including two seawater temperatures (26.4 °C and 29.8 °C), pCO2 levels (401 μatm pCO2 and 760 μatm pCO2), and nutrient concentrations (ambient: 0.40 μmol L−1 NO3− and 0.22 μmol L−1 PO43−, and moderate: 3.56 μmol L−1 NO3− and 0.31 μmol L−1 PO43−). Added nitrate was taken up by the algal endosymbionts and transferred to the coral hosts in both species, though to a much higher degree in A. millepora. When exposed to elevated temperature, elevated pCO2, or both, effects observed for chlorophyll a, calcification, biomass, and energy reserves were not compounded by the moderate nutrient concentrations in either species. Moderate nutrients enabled A. millepora to continue to meet daily metabolic demand via photosynthesis under predicted future ocean conditions and T. reniformis to greatly exceed daily metabolic demand via photosynthesis and heterotrophy. Our results suggest that balanced moderate nutrients are not detrimental to corals under predicted future ocean conditions and may even provide some benefits.
Continue reading ‘Moderate nutrient concentrations are not detrimental to corals under future ocean conditions’Physiology, niche characteristics and extreme events: current and future habitat suitability of a rhodolith-forming species in the Southwestern Atlantic
Published 18 June 2021 Science ClosedTags: algae, biological response, individualmodeling, laboratory, modeling, mortality, multiple factors, nutrients, performance, photosynthesis, physiology, policy, reproduction, South Atlantic, temperature
Highlights
- Global climate change and local stressors are the main threats to reef-building organisms and habitats they build, such as rhodolith beds.
- Through an experimental essay and ecological niche modelling, we were able to determine the environmental factors that determine the distribution and affect the physiology of an important rhodolith-forming species in the southwestern Atlantic.
- Our results raise the possibility of some rhodolith-forming species being resilient to future environmental change based on our current understanding of their distributions, a perspective that will need to be further explored by future studies.
- This information is helpful in informing policies for the conservation of priority areas, aiding the preservation of marine biodiversity in the South Atlantic.
Abstract
Given the ecological and biogeochemical importance of rhodolith beds, it is necessary to investigate how future environmental conditions will affect these organisms. We investigated the impacts of increased nutrient concentrations, acidification, and marine heatwaves on the performance of the rhodolith-forming species Lithothamnion crispatum in a short-term experiment, including the recovery of individuals after stressor removal. Furthermore, we developed an ecological niche model to establish which environmental conditions determine its current distribution along the Brazilian coast and to project responses to future climate scenarios. Although L. crispatum suffered a reduction in photosynthetic performance when exposed to stressors, they returned to pre-experiment values following the return of individuals to control conditions. The model showed that the most important variables in explaining the current distribution of L. crispatum on the Brazilian coast were maximum nitrate and temperature. In future ocean conditions, the model predicted a range expansion of habitat suitability for this species of approximately 58.5% under RCP 8.5. Physiological responses to experimental future environmental conditions corroborated model predictions of the expansion of this species’ habitat suitability in the future. This study, therefore, demonstrates the benefits of applying combined approaches to examine potential species responses to climate-change drivers from multiple angles.
Continue reading ‘Physiology, niche characteristics and extreme events: current and future habitat suitability of a rhodolith-forming species in the Southwestern Atlantic’Viral-mediated microbe mortality modulated by ocean acidification and eutrophication: consequences for the carbon fluxes through the microbial food web
Published 14 April 2021 Science ClosedTags: abundance, biological response, community composition, laboratory, Mediterranean, mesocosms, mortality, multiple factors, nutrients, otherprocess, photosynthesis, phytoplankton, prokaryotes, virus
Anthropogenic carbon emissions are causing changes in seawater carbonate chemistry including a decline in the pH of the oceans. While its aftermath for calcifying microbes has been widely studied, the effect of ocean acidification (OA) on marine viruses and their microbial hosts is controversial, and even more in combination with another anthropogenic stressor, i.e., human-induced nutrient loads. In this study, two mesocosm acidification experiments with Mediterranean waters from different seasons revealed distinct effects of OA on viruses and viral-mediated prokaryotic mortality depending on the trophic state and the successional stage of the plankton community. In the winter bloom situation, low fluorescence viruses, the most abundant virus-like particle (VLP) subpopulation comprising mostly bacteriophages, were negatively affected by lowered pH with nutrient addition, while the bacterial host abundance was stimulated. High fluorescence viruses, containing cyanophages, were stimulated by OA regardless of the nutrient conditions, while cyanobacteria of the genus Synechococcus were negatively affected by OA. Moreover, the abundance of very high fluorescence viruses infecting small haptophytes tended to be lower under acidification while their putative hosts’ abundance was enhanced, suggesting a direct and negative effect of OA on viral–host interactions. In the oligotrophic summer situation, we found a stimulating effect of OA on total viral abundance and the viral populations, suggesting a cascading effect of the elevated pCO2 stimulating autotrophic and heterotrophic production. In winter, viral lysis accounted for 30 ± 16% of the loss of bacterial standing stock per day (VMMBSS) under increased pCO2 compared to 53 ± 35% in the control treatments, without effects of nutrient additions while in summer, OA had no significant effects on VMMBSS (35 ± 20% and 38 ± 5% per day in the OA and control treatments, respectively). We found that phage production and resulting organic carbon release rates significantly reduced under OA in the nutrient replete winter situation, but it was also observed that high nutrient loads lowered the negative effect of OA on viral lysis, suggesting an antagonistic interplay between these two major global ocean stressors in the Anthropocene. In summer, however, viral-mediated carbon release rates were lower and not affected by lowered pH. Eutrophication consistently stimulated viral production regardless of the season or initial conditions. Given the relevant role of viruses for marine carbon cycling and the biological carbon pump, these two anthropogenic stressors may modulate carbon fluxes through their effect on viruses at the base of the pelagic food web in a future global change scenario.
Continue reading ‘Viral-mediated microbe mortality modulated by ocean acidification and eutrophication: consequences for the carbon fluxes through the microbial food web’Effects of extra feeding combined with ocean acidification and increased temperature on the carbon isotope values (δ13C) in the mussel shell
Published 13 April 2021 Science ClosedTags: biological response, calcification, laboratory, mollusks, multiple factors, nutrients, performance, physiology, temperature
Highlights
- Ocean acidification, OA, increased metabolic carbon uptake in mussel shell calcite.
- Additive effects of increased temperature and extra feeding on carbon uptake.
- Mussels alter their biomineralisation pathways relating to food carbon uptake.
- Metabolic carbon uptake is 7–11% higher in the shell aragonite compared to calcite.
- Molluscs with different composites may alter biomineralisation under OA.
Abstract
Ocean acidification (OA) and global warming present future challenges for shell producing organisms such as mussels through reduction in the carbonate available to produce shells in these and other valuable aquaculture species. Molluscs control their shell growth through biomineralisation, but the response of the mechanisms behind biomineralisation to OA conditions are relatively unknown. It is unclear how much carbon is taken into the shell from the environment compared to the uptake through the food source. Shell production is energetically costly to molluscs and metabolic processes and energetic partitioning may affect their ability to perform the underlying mechanisms of biomineralisation under OA. It is possible that additional food consumption might alleviate some impacts caused by acidification. We assessed the ability of extra feeding to alter the impacts of OA and increased temperatures on adult Mytilus edulis. Carbon isotopes (δ13C) were used to examine the change in biomineralisation pathway in mussels. OA did not alter the δ13C directly in separate analyses of the shell calcite and aragonite layers, mantle tissue and extrapallial fluid. However, ambient treatments with increased temperatures altered the mussel biomineralisation pathway in the shell calcite using CO32− instead of HCO3− as the main source of carbon. The proportion of metabolic carbon uptake into the mussel shell calcite layer increased under OA, with additive effects when exposed to increased temperatures and extra feeding. The proportion of metabolic carbon uptake is higher (7%–11%) in the shell aragonite layer compared to calcite, under ambient treatments. OA initially reduced the metabolic carbon uptake into the shell aragonite, but after a period of 4-months with extra feeding, the mussels were able to adjust their metabolic carbon uptake to a level experienced under ambient treatments. This indicates that an abundance of food resources may enable changes in mussel biomineralisation pathways to compensate for any decrease in seawater inorganic carbon associated with OA. The impact of OA on phytoplankton varies from species to species, changing the structure of the community which could provide sufficient food resources to maintain metabolic carbon uptake for mussel shell growth. This study of δ13C isotopic values has identified changes in biomineralisation pathway relating to the mussel metabolic carbon uptake from their food source, with varying results for the aragonite and calcite shell polymorphs. The implications of these findings suggest that some bivalve species with different shell composites may cope better under OA than others, demanding further study into species-specific biomineralisation pathways.
Continue reading ‘Effects of extra feeding combined with ocean acidification and increased temperature on the carbon isotope values (δ13C) in the mussel shell’Impact of increased nutrients and lowered pH on photosynthesis and growth of three marine phytoplankton communities from the coastal South West Atlantic (Patagonia, Argentina)
Published 25 March 2021 Science ClosedTags: biological response, BRcommunity, community composition, growth, laboratory, multiple factors, nutrients, photosynthesis, phytoplankton, South Atlantic, zooplankton
Effect of global change variables on the structure and photosynthesis of phytoplankton communities was evaluated in three different sites of the Patagonian coast of Argentina: enclosed bay (Puerto Madryn, PM), estuarine (Playa Unión, PU), and open waters (Isla Escondida, IE). We exposed samples to two contrasting scenarios: Present (nutrients at in situ levels) vs. Future (with lowered pH and higher nutrients inputs), and determined growth and photosynthetic responses after 2 days of acclimation. Under the Future condition phytoplankton growth was higher in the estuarine site compared to those in PM and IE. This effect was the most pronounced on large diatoms. While the increase of photosynthetic activity was not always observed in the Future scenario, the lower photosynthetic electron requirement for carbon fixation (Φe,C = ETR/PmB) in this scenario compared to the Present, suggests a more effective energy utilization. Long-term experiments were also conducted to assess the responses along a 4 days acclimation period in PU. Diatoms benefited from the Future conditions and had significantly higher growth rates than in the Present. In addition, Φe,C was lower after the acclimation period in the Future scenario, compared to the Present. Our results suggest that the availability, frequency and amount of nutrients play a key role when evaluating the effects of global change on natural phytoplankton communities. The observed changes in diatom growth under the Future scenario in PU and IE and photosynthesis may have implications in the local trophodynamics by bottom up control.
Continue reading ‘Impact of increased nutrients and lowered pH on photosynthesis and growth of three marine phytoplankton communities from the coastal South West Atlantic (Patagonia, Argentina)’Photosynthetic responses of Halimeda scabra (Chlorophyta, Bryopsidales) to interactive effects of temperature, pH, and nutrients and its carbon pathways
Published 9 March 2021 Science ClosedTags: algae, biological response, laboratory, multiple factors, North Atlantic, nutrients, photosynthesis, physiology, temperature
In this study, we evaluated the interactive effects of temperature, pH, and nutrients on photosynthetic performance in the calcareous tropical macroalga Halimeda scabra. A significant interaction among these factors on gross photosynthesis (Pgross) was found. The highest values of Pgross were reached at the highest temperature, pH, and nutrient enrichment tested and similarly in the control treatment (no added nutrients) at 33 °C at the lowest pH. The Q10 Pgross values confirmed the effect of temperature only under nutrient enrichment scenarios. Besides the above, bicarbonate (HCO3−) absorption was assessed by the content of carbon stable isotope (δ13C) in algae tissue and by its incorporation into photosynthetic products, as well as by carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitors (Acetazolamide, AZ and Ethoxyzolamide, EZ) assays. The labeling of δ13C revealed this species uses both, CO2 and HCO3− forms of Ci relying on a CO2 Concentration Mechanism (CCM). These results were validated by the EZ-AZ inhibition assays in which photosynthesis inhibition was observed, indicating the action of internal CA, whereas AZ inhibitor did not affect maximum photosynthesis (Pmax). The incorporation of 13C isotope into aspartate in light and dark treatments also confirmed photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic the HCO3−uptake.
Continue reading ‘Photosynthetic responses of Halimeda scabra (Chlorophyta, Bryopsidales) to interactive effects of temperature, pH, and nutrients and its carbon pathways’Springtime spatial distributions of biogenic sulfur compounds in the Yangtze river estuary and their responses to seawater acidification and dust
Published 24 February 2021 Science ClosedTags: biological response, laboratory, multiple factors, North Pacific, nutrients, physiology, phytoplankton
The spatial distributions of dimethylsulfide (DMS), dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) were investigated in the Yangtze River Estuary from 9 to 23 March, 2018. The average concentrations of DMS, dissolved DMSP (DMSPd), particulate DMSP (DMSPp), dissolved DMSO (DMSOd) and particulate DMSO (DMSOp) were 3.00 ± 2.53, 1.75 ± 1.08, 10.89 ± 14.28, 9.80 ± 7.79, and 9.51 ± 8.90 nmol L‐1, respectively. The high DMS and DMSP concentrations occurred mainly in the open sea, exhibiting distribution patterns similar to chlorophyll a (Chl‐a). Due to the release of resuspended sediments, elevated DMSO concentrations were observed in the bottom waters of some stations. The three sulfur compounds were positively correlated with Chl‐a (p < 0.05), suggesting that phytoplankton played an essential role in the production of sulfur compounds. Comparisons with previous research showed that the concentrations of DMS, DMSP, and DMSOp exhibited clear seasonal variability. The average sea‐to‐air flux of DMS was 8.19 ± 12.94 μmol m‐2 d‐1 in the study area, indicating that the estuary and continental shelf sea were significant contributors to the global sulfur cycle. Ship‐based incubation experiments showed that lower pH inhibited the production of the three biogenic sulfur compounds, while the addition of dust promoted their release. Therefore, in the future, the inhibitory effect of seawater acidification on the production of phytoplankton and sulfur compounds might be offset, to some degree, by the input of nutrient‐rich dust.
Continue reading ‘Springtime spatial distributions of biogenic sulfur compounds in the Yangtze river estuary and their responses to seawater acidification and dust’The dual benefit of ocean acidification for the laminarialean kelp, Saccharina latissima: enhanced growth and reduced herbivory
Published 11 February 2021 Science ClosedTags: algae, biological response, laboratory, mollusks, morphology, multiple factors, nutrients, performance
The laminarialean kelp, Saccharina latissima, is a common macroalgae along rocky shorelines that is also frequently used in aquaculture. This study examined how ocean acidification may alter the growth of S. latissima as well as grazing on S. latissima by the gastropod, Lacuna vincta. Under elevated nutrients, S. latissima experienced significantly enhanced growth at pCO2 levels >1,200 µatm compared to ambient pCO2 (~400 µatm). Elevated pCO2 (>830 µatm) also significantly reduced herbivory of L. vincta grazing on S. latissima relative to ambient pCO2. There was no difference in grazing of S. latissima previously grown under elevated or ambient pCO2, suggesting lowered herbivory was due to harm to the gastropods rather than alteration of the biochemical composition of the kelp. Decreased herbivory was specifically elicited when L. vincta were exposed to elevated pCO2 in the absence of food for >18 h prior to grazing, with reduced grazing persisting 72 h. Elevated growth of S. latissima and reduced grazing by L. vincta at 1,200 µatm pCO2 combined to increase net growth rates of S. latissima by more than four-fold relative to ambient pCO2. L. vincta consumed 70% of daily production by S. latissima under ambient pCO2 but only 38% and 9% at 800 µatm and 1,200 µatm, respectively. Collectively, decreased grazing by L. vincta coupled with enhanced growth of S. latissima under elevated pCO2 demonstrates that increased CO2 associated with climate change and/or coastal processes will dually benefit commercially and ecologically important kelps by both promoting growth and reducing grazing pressure.
Continue reading ‘The dual benefit of ocean acidification for the laminarialean kelp, Saccharina latissima: enhanced growth and reduced herbivory’
