Hidden impacts of ocean acidification to live and dead coral framework.
Cold-water corals, such as Lophelia pertusa, are key habitat-forming organisms found throughout the world's oceans to 3000 m deep. The complex three-dimensional framework made by these vulnerable marine ecosystems support high biodiversity and commercially important species. Given their importance, a key question is how both the living and the dead framework will fare under projected climate change. Here, we demonstrate that over 12 months L. pertusa can physiologically acclimate to increased CO2, showing sustained net calcification. However, their new skeletal structure changes and exhibits decreased crystallographic and molecular-scale bonding organization. Although physiological acclimatization was evident, we also demonstrate that there is a negative correlation between increasing CO2 levels and breaking strength of exposed framework (approx. 20-30% weaker after 12 months), meaning the exposed bases of reefs will be less effective 'load-bearers', and will become more susceptible to bioerosion and mechanical damage by 2100.
Centre for Marine Biodiversity and Biotechnology, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK s.hennige@hw.ac.uk.
S J
SJ
Hennige
Centre for Marine Biodiversity and Biotechnology, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK.
L C
LC
Wicks
School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
N A
NA
Kamenos
School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
G
G
Perna
Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth PL1 3DH, UK.
H S
HS
Findlay
Centre for Marine Biodiversity and Biotechnology, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28403-5928, USA Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban, Argyll PA37 IQA, UK.
J M
JM
Roberts
D000064:Acclimatization; D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D057231:Climate Change; D057894:Coral Reefs; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D012119:Respiration; D012606:Scotland; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature
D002245:Carbon Dioxide
Lophelia pertusa; biomineralization; calcification; climate change; cold-water corals; ocean acidification