Coral Reefs and Ocean Acidification

Kleypas, Joan A.; Yates, Kimberly K.

doi:10.5670/oceanog.2009.101

Cited by 247 publications

(159 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…In contrast, laboratory experiments have shown that, for a variety of calcareous organisms, the rate of calcification decreases as the CO 2 level increases and W decreases. These organisms include corals [e.g., Kleypas and Yates, 2009], the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas [Gazeau et al, 2007], and Gephyrocapsa oceanica [Riebesell et al, 2000] that are also seen in the region we studied and/or in the adjacent coastal basins. These experimental results suggest that the rapid decline in W calc and W arag as well as the increase in CO 2 predicted for the next 50 years would have a large impacts on calcareous organisms and ecosystems in the coastal ocean off of Honshu, even though W arag and W calc values are higher than those in the polar regions where W arag is closer to 1.0 [Orr et al, 2005].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ocean acidification off the south coast of Japan: A result from time series observations of CO₂parameters from 1994 to 2008

Ishii¹,

Kosugi²,

Sasano³

et al. 2011

J. Geophys. Res.

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[1] Ocean acidification resulting from increases in present and future atmospheric CO 2 levels could seriously affect diverse coastal and oceanic ecosystems. In this work, we determine that a significant trend in ocean acidification is superposed on the large seasonal and interannual variabilities of acidity in surface waters off the south coast of Honshu, Japan, based on our repeated observations of partial pressure of CO 2 ( pCO 2 ), total inorganic carbon (TCO 2 ), and pH. Multiple regression analysis of TCO 2 as a function of temperature, salinity, and timing of observations shows that TCO 2 increased at a rate of +1.23 ± 0.40 mmol kg −1 yr −1 for the period 1994-2008, while no long-term change has been determined for total alkalinity calculated from TCO 2 and pCO 2 in seawater. These results indicate that pH and the aragonite saturation state (W arag ) are decreasing at a rate of −0.020 ± 0.007 decade −1 and −0.12 ± 0.05 decade −1 , respectively. If future atmospheric CO 2 levels keep increasing as predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change emission scenario A1FI, which postulates intensive fossil fuel use associated with very rapid economic growth, a further reduction of −0.8 to −1.0 in W arag is likely in the next 50 years. Such a rapid reduction of W arag could have negative impacts on a variety of calcareous organisms.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ocean acidification off the south coast of Japan: A result from time series observations of CO₂parameters from 1994 to 2008

Ishii¹,

Kosugi²,

Sasano³

et al. 2011

J. Geophys. Res.

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“…Moreover, the employed regional census-based approach is subject to uncertainties in data and methods and warrants further research. It may be necessary to update and refine these values in the context of reduced calcification due to global trends in coral reef ecological decline (De'ath et al, 2009;De'ath et al, 2012) and increased ocean acidification and sea surface temperatures (Kleypas and Yates, 2009;Silverman et al, 2009). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphological characterisation of reef types in Torres Strait and an assessment of their carbonate production

Leon

Woodroffe

2013

Marine Geology

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Coral reefs represent major accumulations of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). The particularly labyrinthine network of reefs in Torres Strait, north of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), has been examined in order to estimate their gross CaCO3 productivity. The approach involved a two-step procedure, first characterising and classifying the morphology of reefs based on a classification scheme widely employed on the GBR and then estimating gross CaCO3 productivity rates across the region using a regional census-based approach. This was undertaken by independently verifying published rates of coral reef community gross production for use in Torres Strait, based on site-specific ecological and morphological data. A total of 606 reef platforms were mapped and classified using classification trees. Despite the complexity of the maze of reefs in Torres Strait, there are broad morphological similarities with reefs in the GBR. The spatial distribution and dimensions of reef types across both regions are underpinned by similar geological processes, sea-level history in the Holocene and exposure to the same wind/wave energetic regime, resulting in comparable geomorphic zonation. However, the presence of strong tidal currents flowing through Torres Strait and the relatively shallow and narrow dimensions of the shelf exert a control on local morphology and spatial distribution of the reef platforms. A total amount of 8.7 million tonnes of CaCO3 per year, at an average rate of 3.7 kg CaCO3 m− 2 yr− 1 (G), were estimated for the studied area. Extrapolated production rates based on detailed and regional census-based approaches for geomorphic zones across Torres Strait were comparable to those reported elsewhere, particularly values for the GBR based on alkalinity-reduction methods. However, differences in mapping methodologies and the impact of reduced calcification due to global trends in coral reef ecological decline and changing oceanic physical conditions warrant further research. The novel method proposed in this study to characterise the geomorphology of reef types based on classification trees provides an objective and repeatable data-driven approach that combined with regional census-based approaches has the potential to be adapted and transferred to different coral reef regions, depicting a more accurate picture of interactions between reef ecology and geomorphology. been examined in order to estimate their gross CaCO 3 productivity. The approach involved a two-step procedure, first characterising and classifying the morphology of reefs based on a classification scheme widely employed on the GBR and then estimating gross CaCO 3 productivity rates across the region using a regional census-based approach. This was undertaken by independently verifying published rates of coral reef community gross production for use in Torres Strait, based on site-specific ecological and morphological data.A total of 606 reef platform were mapped and classified using classification trees. per year, at an average rate of 3.7 kg CaCO 3 m -2 ...

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“…Few studies of the effects of elevated CO 2 on coral reef organisms are available [195]. De'ath et al [196] examined colonies of Porites from 69 reefs along the Great Barrier Reef and detected declines in linear growth (13.3%) and calci�cation (14.2%) since 1990.…”

Section: Biodiversity and Resiliencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, growth of seagrasses could increase [166]. Kleypas and Yates [195] also point out that algae that bore into coral skeletons dissolve more calcium carbonate at higher CO 2 concentrations [199], possibly tipping the balance from reef accretion to reef dissolution. e threshold above which reefs shi from net accretion to net dissolution will vary substantially on different reefs, re�ecting differences in community composition, geographic location, mixing rates of water masses, and other factors [195].…”

Section: Biodiversity and Resiliencementioning

confidence: 99%

Coral Reef Resilience through Biodiversity

Rogers

2013

ISRN Oceanography

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Irrefutable evidence of coral reef degradation worldwide and increasing pressure from rising seawater temperatures and ocean acidification associated with climate change have led to a focus on reef resilience and a call to “manage” coral reefs for resilience. Ideally, global action to reduce emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases will be accompanied by local action. Effective management requires reduction of local stressors, identification of the characteristics of resilient reefs, and design of marine protected area networks that include potentially resilient reefs. Future research is needed on how stressors interact, on how climate change will affect corals, fish, and other reef organisms as well as overall biodiversity, and on basic ecological processes such as connectivity. Not all reef species and reefs will respond similarly to local and global stressors. Because reef-building corals and other organisms have some potential to adapt to environmental changes, coral reefs will likely persist in spite of the unprecedented combination of stressors currently affecting them. The biodiversity of coral reefs is the basis for their remarkable beauty and for the benefits they provide to society. The extraordinary complexity of these ecosystems makes it both more difficult to predict their future and more likely they will have a future.

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Coral Reefs and Ocean Acidification

Cited by 247 publications

References 52 publications

Ocean acidification off the south coast of Japan: A result from time series observations of CO₂parameters from 1994 to 2008

Ocean acidification off the south coast of Japan: A result from time series observations of CO₂parameters from 1994 to 2008

Morphological characterisation of reef types in Torres Strait and an assessment of their carbonate production

Coral Reef Resilience through Biodiversity

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Coral Reefs and Ocean Acidification

Cited by 247 publications

References 52 publications

Ocean acidification off the south coast of Japan: A result from time series observations of CO2parameters from 1994 to 2008

Ocean acidification off the south coast of Japan: A result from time series observations of CO2parameters from 1994 to 2008

Morphological characterisation of reef types in Torres Strait and an assessment of their carbonate production

Coral Reef Resilience through Biodiversity

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Ocean acidification off the south coast of Japan: A result from time series observations of CO₂parameters from 1994 to 2008

Ocean acidification off the south coast of Japan: A result from time series observations of CO₂parameters from 1994 to 2008