Effects of Nutrient Loading, Elevated Temperature, and Ocean Acidification on Crustose Coralline Algae
Effects of Nutrient Loading, Elevated Temperature, and Ocean Acidification on Crustose Coralline Algae
Date
2016
Authors
Moss, Casey
Contributor
Advisor
Toonen, Rob
Department
Oceanography
Global Environmental Science
Global Environmental Science
Instructor
Depositor
Speaker
Researcher
Consultant
Interviewer
Annotator
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Volume
Number/Issue
Starting Page
Ending Page
Alternative Title
Abstract
Rising temperatures, ocean acidification, and chronic eutrophication all
contribute drastic functional changes to tropical shallow water reef ecosystems.
“Business-as-usual” carbon dioxide emission scenarios predict atmospheric
concentrations of CO2 will nearly double by the end of this century. The
increased absorption of CO2 in ocean surface waters contributes to lower pH and
lower carbonate saturation states. This acidification raises concern as to whether
marine calcifying organisms could successfully continue to build their skeletons
under future conditions. The development of crustose coralline algae (CCA) is a
vital component of the coral reef environment that supports the function and
growth of the reef ecosystem. CCA provide settlement cues for invertebrate and
coral larvae while also acting like cement, holding reef structure together. My
research focused on investigating the possible synergistic effects that rising
temperatures, ocean acidification, and chronic eutrophication could have on the
growth rates of CCA. The experiment was held over 24 days during the summer
of 2015, exposing groups of CCA nubbins to a variety of environmental stressors.
Overall, no significant effects were observed to have changed the growth rates of
CCA, possibly suggesting that these marine calcifiers are capable of acclimating
to rapid climate change, at least for short periods of time.
Description
Keywords
reefs,
coral reefs,
coral,
reef ecology,
nutrient,
algae
Citation
Extent
30 pages
Format
Geographic Location
Time Period
Related To
Table of Contents
Rights
All UHM dissertations and theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission from the copyright owner.
Rights Holder
Local Contexts
Collections
Email libraryada-l@lists.hawaii.edu if you need this content in ADA-compliant format.