Ocean acidification effects on calcifying macroalgae

Effects of Ocean Acidification and Temperature Increases on the Photosynthesis of Tropical Reef Calcified Macroalgae

Climate change is a global phenomenon that is considered an important threat to marine ecosystems. Ocean acidification and increased seawater temperatures are among the consequences of this phenomenon. The comprehension of the effects of these alterations on marine organisms, in particular on calcified macroalgae, is still modest despite its great importance. There are evidences that macroalgae...

Using functional genomics to explore the effects of ocean acidification on calcifying marine organisms

As the research community attempts to forecast the effects of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems, a critical element is a clear understanding of the effects of ocean acidification on an individual organism’s physiology. This article explores how the use of genomics-based tools that measure gene expression — DNA microarrays and quantitative PCR — can assist in this effort and reveal aspect...

Coral calcifying fluid pH dictates response to ocean acidification

Ocean acidification driven by rising levels of CO2 impairs calcification, threatening coral reef growth. Predicting how corals respond to CO2 requires a better understanding of how calcification is controlled. Here we show how spatial variations in the pH of the internal calcifying fluid (pHcf) in coral (Stylophora pistillata) colonies correlates with differential sensitivity of calcification t...

Effects of ocean acidification on macroalgal communities

Cascading Effects of Ocean Acidification in a Rocky Subtidal Community

Temperate marine rocky habitats may be alternatively characterized by well vegetated macroalgal assemblages or barren grounds, as a consequence of direct and indirect human impacts (e.g. overfishing) and grazing pressure by herbivorous organisms. In future scenarios of ocean acidification, calcifying organisms are expected to be less competitive: among these two key elements of the rocky subtid...