Near-future levels of <i>p</i>CO₂ impact skeletal weights of coral primary polyps (<i>Acropora digitifera</i>)

Ocean acidification poses a severe threat to corals; declines in carbonate ion concentrations caused by increasing atmospheric CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) can severely impact coral calcification. Thus, there is an urgent need understand the impacts of near-future ocean on corals. In this study, we compared effects seawater at present and pCO2 (approximately +200 μatm) levels skeletal weights new recruits. Experiments were carried out using precisely pCO2-controlled aquaria supplying stable flow-through system. Our results show that recruits decreased significantly μatm pCO2, which expected be reached within century if continues pace.