Possible effects of ocean acidification on coral reef biogeochemistry: topics for research

• Published in: Marine Ecology Progress Series
• Main Authors: Atkinson, MJ, Cuet, Pascale
• Other Authors: Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB), Laboratoire d'Ecologie Marine (ECOMAR), Université de La Réunion (UR)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2008
• Subjects: Biogeochemistry; Coral reefs; Ocean acidification; Climate change; [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology
• Online Access: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00866234; https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00866234/document; https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00866234/file/m373p249.pdf; https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07867

International audience ABSTRACT: This paper is a short review of recent literature on how ocean acidification may influence coral reef organisms and coral reef communities. We argue that it is unclear as to how, and to what extent, ocean acidification will influence calcium carbonate calcification and dissolution, and affect changes in community structure of present-day coral reefs. It is critical to evaluate the extent to which the metabolism of present-day reefs is influenced by mineral saturation states, and to determine a threshold saturation state at which coral communities cease to function as reefs.