Multidecadal increase in North Atlantic coccolithophores and the potential role of rising CO 2
Passing an acid test Calcifying marine organisms will generally find it harder to make and maintain their carbonate skeletons as increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO 2 acidify the oceans. Nevertheless, some types of organisms will be damaged more than others, and some may even benefit from hi...
| Published in: | Science |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
| Other Authors: | , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
2015
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aaa8026 https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.aaa8026 |
| Summary: | Passing an acid test Calcifying marine organisms will generally find it harder to make and maintain their carbonate skeletons as increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO 2 acidify the oceans. Nevertheless, some types of organisms will be damaged more than others, and some may even benefit from higher CO 2 levels. Coccolithophores are a case in point, because their photosynthetic ability is strongly carbon-limited. Rivero-Calle et al. show that the abundance of coccolithophores in the North Atlantic has increased by up to 20% or more in the past 50 years (see the Perspective by Vogt). Thus, this major phytoplankton functional group may be able to adapt to a future with higher CO 2 concentrations. Science , this issue p. 1533 see also p. 1466 |
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