Show simple item record

dc.contributor.authorHall-Spencer, Jason
dc.contributor.authorRodolfo-Metalpa, R
dc.contributor.authorMartin, S
dc.contributor.authorRansome, E
dc.contributor.authorFine, M
dc.contributor.authorTurner, SM
dc.contributor.authorRowley, SJ
dc.contributor.authorTedesco, D
dc.contributor.authorBuia, MC
dc.date.accessioned2013-02-20T10:55:55Z
dc.date.available2013-02-20T10:55:55Z
dc.date.issued2008-07-03
dc.identifier.issn0028-0836
dc.identifier.issn1476-4687
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/1345
dc.description.abstract

The atmospheric partial pressure of carbon dioxide (p(CO(2))) will almost certainly be double that of pre-industrial levels by 2100 and will be considerably higher than at any time during the past few million years. The oceans are a principal sink for anthropogenic CO(2) where it is estimated to have caused a 30% increase in the concentration of H(+) in ocean surface waters since the early 1900s and may lead to a drop in seawater pH of up to 0.5 units by 2100 (refs 2, 3). Our understanding of how increased ocean acidity may affect marine ecosystems is at present very limited as almost all studies have been in vitro, short-term, rapid perturbation experiments on isolated elements of the ecosystem. Here we show the effects of acidification on benthic ecosystems at shallow coastal sites where volcanic CO(2) vents lower the pH of the water column. Along gradients of normal pH (8.1-8.2) to lowered pH (mean 7.8-7.9, minimum 7.4-7.5), typical rocky shore communities with abundant calcareous organisms shifted to communities lacking scleractinian corals with significant reductions in sea urchin and coralline algal abundance. To our knowledge, this is the first ecosystem-scale validation of predictions that these important groups of organisms are susceptible to elevated amounts of p(CO(2)). Sea-grass production was highest in an area at mean pH 7.6 (1,827 (mu)atm p(CO(2))) where coralline algal biomass was significantly reduced and gastropod shells were dissolving due to periods of carbonate sub-saturation. The species populating the vent sites comprise a suite of organisms that are resilient to naturally high concentrations of p(CO(2)) and indicate that ocean acidification may benefit highly invasive non-native algal species. Our results provide the first in situ insights into how shallow water marine communities might change when susceptible organisms are removed owing to ocean acidification.

dc.format.extent96-99
dc.format.mediumPrint-Electronic
dc.languageeng
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherNature Research
dc.subjectAcids
dc.subjectAlismatidae
dc.subjectAnimals
dc.subjectAtlantic Ocean
dc.subjectCalcium Carbonate
dc.subjectCarbon Dioxide
dc.subjectEcosystem
dc.subjectEukaryota
dc.subjectHydrogen-Ion Concentration
dc.subjectInvertebrates
dc.subjectItaly
dc.subjectPopulation Density
dc.subjectSeawater
dc.subjectVolcanic Eruptions
dc.titleVolcanic carbon dioxide vents show ecosystem effects of ocean acidification
dc.typejournal-article
dc.typeArticle
plymouth.author-urlhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18536730
plymouth.issue7200
plymouth.volume454
plymouth.publication-statusPublished
plymouth.journalNature
dc.identifier.doi10.1038/nature07051
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/Faculty of Science and Engineering
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/Faculty of Science and Engineering/School of Biological and Marine Sciences
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/PRIMaRE Publications
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/REF 2021 Researchers by UoA
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/REF 2021 Researchers by UoA/UoA07 Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/Research Groups
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/Research Groups/Marine Institute
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/Users by role
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/Users by role/Academics
dc.publisher.placeEngland
dcterms.dateAccepted2008-05-01
dc.identifier.eissn1476-4687
dc.rights.embargoperiodNot known
rioxxterms.versionofrecord10.1038/nature07051
rioxxterms.licenseref.urihttp://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved
rioxxterms.licenseref.startdate2008-07-03
rioxxterms.typeJournal Article/Review


Files in this item

Thumbnail
Thumbnail

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record


All items in PEARL are protected by copyright law.
Author manuscripts deposited to comply with open access mandates are made available in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite only the published version using the details provided on the item record or document. In the absence of an open licence (e.g. Creative Commons), permissions for further reuse of content should be sought from the publisher or author.
Theme by 
Atmire NV