title: Benthic foraminifera show some resilience to ocean acidification in the northern Gulf of California, Mexico.
abstract: Extensive CO2 vents have been discovered in the Wagner Basin, northern Gulf of California, where they create large areas with lowered seawater pH. Such areas are suitable for investigations of long-term biological effects of ocean acidification and effects of CO2 leakage from subsea carbon capture storage. Here, we show responses of benthic foraminifera to seawater pH gradients at 74-207m water depth. Living (rose Bengal stained) benthic foraminifera included Nonionella basispinata, Epistominella bradyana and Bulimina marginata. Studies on foraminifera at CO2 vents in the Mediterranean and off Papua New Guinea have shown dramatic long-term effects of acidified seawater. We found living calcareous benthic foraminifera in low pH conditions in the northern Gulf of California, although there was an impoverished species assemblage and evidence of post-mortem test dissolution.
authors.affiliation: Marine Institute Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: laura.pettit@plymouth.ac.uk.
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Pettit
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Medina-Sánchez
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Smart
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodolfo-Metalpa
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hall-Spencer
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Prol-Ledesma
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D017753:Ecosystem; D056908:Foraminifera / Q000502:physiology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008800:Mexico; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002245:Carbon Dioxide
keywords: Benthic foraminifera; Gulf of California; Ocean acidification; Vent systems