title: Effects of ocean acidification on population dynamics and community structure of crustose coralline algae.
abstract: Calcification and growth of crustose coralline algae (CCA) are affected by elevated seawater pCO2 and associated changes in carbonate chemistry. However, the effects of ocean acidification (OA) on population and community-level responses of CCA have barely been investigated. We explored changes in community structure and population dynamics (size structure and reproduction) of CCA in response to OA. Recruited from an experimental flow-through system, CCA settled onto the walls of plastic aquaria and developed under exposure to one of three pCO2 treatments (control [present day, 389±6 ppm CO2], medium [753±11 ppm], and high [1267±19 ppm]). Elevated pCO2 reduced total CCA abundance and affected community structure, in particular the density of the dominant species Pneophyllum sp. and Porolithon onkodes. Meanwhile, the relative abundance of P. onkodes declined from 24% under control CO2 to 8.3% in high CO2 (65% change), while the relative abundance of Pneophyllum sp. remained constant. Population size structure of P. onkodes differed significantly across treatments, with fewer larger individuals under high CO2. In contrast, the population size structure and number of reproductive structures (conceptacles) per crust of Pneophyllum sp. was similar across treatments. The difference in the magnitude of the response of species abundance and population size structure between species may have the potential to induce species composition changes in the future. These results demonstrate that the impacts of OA on key coral reef builders go beyond declines in calcification and growth, and suggest important changes to aspects of population dynamics and community ecology.
authors: Griffith School of Environment and Australian Rivers Institute-Coast & Estuaries, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Brisbane, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia; a.ordonezalvarez@griffith.edu.au.
authors: Alexandra
authors: A
authors: Ordoñez
authors: Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia; and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Doropoulos
authors: Griffith School of Environment and Australian Rivers Institute-Coast & Estuaries, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Brisbane, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Guillermo
authors: G
authors: Diaz-Pulido
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D011156:Population Density; D011157:Population Dynamics; D000461:Rhodophyta / Q000502:physiology*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide