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    Impacts of Acidification

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    JeanieOrate
    The document discusses the impacts of ocean acidification. It begins by explaining that ocean acidification is caused by carbon dioxide being absorbed by oceans from the atmosphere. This lowers the pH of seawater and threatens marine organisms, especially calcifying species. While some species may attempt to cope physiologically, this response could reduce survival and fitness. Further research is still needed to understand the complex effects on ecosystems and how multiple stressors interact. Global action is required to address this threat posed by rising CO2 emissions.

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    Impacts of Acidification

    Uploaded by

    JeanieOrate
    40 views4 pages
    The document discusses the impacts of ocean acidification. It begins by explaining that ocean acidification is caused by carbon dioxide being absorbed by oceans from the atmosphere. This lowers the pH of seawater and threatens marine organisms, especially calcifying species. While some species may attempt to cope physiologically, this response could reduce survival and fitness. Further research is still needed to understand the complex effects on ecosystems and how multiple stressors interact. Global action is required to address this threat posed by rising CO2 emissions.

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    A literature review on the impacts of ocean acidification

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    The document discusses the impacts of ocean acidification. It begins by explaining that ocean acidification is caused by carbon dioxide being absorbed by oceans from the atmosphere. This lowers the pH of seawater and threatens marine organisms, especially calcifying species. While some species may attempt to cope physiologically, this response could reduce survival and fitness. Further research is still needed to understand the complex effects on ecosystems and how multiple stressors interact. Global action is required to address this threat posed by rising CO2 emissions.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    40 views4 pages

    Impacts of Acidification

    Uploaded by

    JeanieOrate
    The document discusses the impacts of ocean acidification. It begins by explaining that ocean acidification is caused by carbon dioxide being absorbed by oceans from the atmosphere. This lowers the pH of seawater and threatens marine organisms, especially calcifying species. While some species may attempt to cope physiologically, this response could reduce survival and fitness. Further research is still needed to understand the complex effects on ecosystems and how multiple stressors interact. Global action is required to address this threat posed by rising CO2 emissions.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 4

    IMPACTS OF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION

    Jeanie T. Orate

    A Review of Related Literature

    Submitted to Dr. Venus Leopardas

    Mindanao State University at Naawan

    9023, Naawan Misamis Oriental

    In Partial Fulfillment of the

    Requirements for

    The Course

    Oceanography (MB 102)

    May 2017
    IMPACTS OF ACIDIFICATION

    Ocean acidification is an increasing problem many people do not know about. It is not
    as popular as climate change since it had caught the attention of the scientific community later
    than climate change and even global warming did. Nevertheless, ocean acidification is an issue
    one should not overlook. The following review of articles provides the more reasons why
    humanity should be afraid of it and do something to mitigate it.

    Anthropogenic actions has been one of the culprit behind ocean acidification.
    According to Siegenthaler and Sarmiento (1993) the oceans serve as a natural carbon sink and
    so far have absorbed approximately half of all anthropogenically produced CO2. And a study
    by Zeebe and Wolf-Gladrow (2001) concluded that when carbon dioxide enters the ocean it
    reacts with seawater and alters the chemical properties of the sea itself. This process have
    resulted into the lowering pH value of seawater by producing hydrogen ions as supported by
    Caldeira and Wickett (2003). Also Caldeira and Wickett stated that currently, seawater pH
    ranges between 7.8 and 8.2 and is already on average 0.1 pH unit lower than it was prior to the
    industrial revolution.

    This phenomenon of lowering pH level poses a threat to a lot of marine organisms


    especially to calcifying organisms. A meta-analysis conducted by Kroeker, Kordas and Crim
    (2010) revealed negative yet variable effects of ocean acidification on marine organisms. The
    results revealed significant negative effects on survival, growth, calcification and reproduction,
    suggesting ocean acidification conditions will have negative consequence for many marine
    organisms by the end of this century. The results also revealed that calcification was the most
    sensitive process which means that calcifying organisms are more susceptible to ocean
    acidification.

    Ocean acidification don’t just reduced calcification, but also alters the community
    structure. A study conducted by Porzio, Buia and Hall-spencer (2011) resulted that, macroalgal
    habitats are altered significantly as pH drops. The results of this study indicated that calcitic
    species were significantly reduced in cover and species richness whereas a few non-calcified
    species became dominant. The authors concluded that the shift in the algal community structure
    might also affect other marine organisms and the environment as a whole. Furthermore the
    authors suggested that other studies should be done to investigate whether the observed
    response of macroalgal communities can be replicated in different seasons and from a range of
    geographical regions for incorporation into global modelling studies to predict to investigate
    effects of CO2emissions on Earth's ecosystems.

    The conclusion that ocean acidification reduces calcification rates though had been
    surprisingly shaken by a prior study. Amphiura filiformisis, a key species in many seafloor
    was studied by Wood, Spicer and Widdicombe (2008) to investigate the effect of CO2-induced
    acidification on the ability of this calcifying organism to regenerate calcium carbonate
    structures (arms). Surprisingly, the results of the study were not inclined with the idea of
    reduced calcification. Calcification rates for species put on acidic water were higher than those
    put in normal condition, so with the case of their metabolism. However the researcher have
    found out that muscle wastage occurred at lowered pH. With the help of a study by Candia,
    Galassi, Bonasoro, Patruno and Thorndyke (2001) the researchers reached to a conclusion arms
    can be regenerated under hypercapnic conditions but their functions are more likely being
    compromised compared to arms regenerated under normal condition. This study proves that
    some species will certainly attempt to cope with the changes in the pH level of seawater though
    it appears that physiological responses to combat the effects of ocean acidification may
    themselves reduce survival and fitness as much as acidification itself and thus will also affect
    other animals relying on them. Another study by Ries, Cohen and McCorkle (2009) supports
    the conclusion that some species will attempt to cope with the effects of altered sea pH levels
    on their study on different marine calcifiers such as temperate corals, pencil urchins, hard
    clams, conchs, serpulid worms, periwinkles, bay scallops, oysters, whelks and soft clams. The
    results of their study suggested that response of calcifying marine organisms to elevated
    atmospheric pCO2 will be variable and complex. However, the authors do not know what could
    be the impact of the changes in calcification to the survival, reproductive success and overall
    ecosystem health of an organism. In contrast to their results, Wood, Spicer and Widdicombe
    suggested that one of the cost to an organisms battle with the effects of ocean acidification is
    the reduce survival and fitness.

    The continuous rise of anthropogenic CO2 emissions will make the ocean more acidic.
    Knowledge about the effects of ocean acidification to the marine ecosystem as a whole is still
    lacking and even the synergistic effects of ocean acidification and climate change and the other
    factors. Without enough information, actions and laws to mitigate it will not be effective.
    Therefore further research should be done to fill the gap of information. Since ocean
    acidification is a global threat, global response is needed. Everyone should take action because
    the unknown future effects of ocean acidification certainly excludes no one.

    REFERENCES

    Caldeira, K. & Wickett, M. E. (2003). Anthropogenic carbon and ocean pH. Nature, 425, 365.
    (Doi: 10.1038/425365a)

    Candia Carnevali, M. D., Galassi, S., Bonasoro, F., Patruno, M. & Thorndyke, M. C. (2001).
    Regenerative response and endocrine disrupters in crinoid echinoderms: arm regeneration in
    Antedon mediterranea after experimental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls. J. Exp.
    Biol.204, 835–842

    Kroeker, K. J., Kordas, R. L, Crim, R. N. & Singh, G. G. (2010). Meta-analysis reveals negative
    yet variable effects of ocean acidification on marine organisms. ECOLOGY LETTERS, 13:
    1419–1434.

    Porzio, L., & Hall-spencer, J. M. (2011). Effects of ocean acidification on macroalgal


    communities. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 400, 278–287.

    Ries, J. B., Cohen, A. L. & McCorkle, D. C. (2009).Marine calcifiers exhibit mixed responses
    to CO2-induced ocean acidification. THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA, 37, 1057–
    115.

    Siegenthaler, U. & Sarmiento, J. L. (1993). Atmospheric carbon dioxide and the ocean.
    Nature, 365,119-125. (Doi: 10.1038/365119a0)

    Wood, H. L., Spicer, J. I., & Widdicombe, S. (2008). Ocean acidification may increase
    calcification rates, but at a cost. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B, 275, 1767–
    1773.

    Zeebe, R. E. & Wolf-Gladrow, D. (2001). CO2 in seawater: equilibrium, kinetics, isotopes.


    Oceanography series, vol. 65, pp. 1–346.

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