Competitive fitness of a predominant pelagic calcifier impaired by ocean acidification ...

• Main Authors: Riebesell, Ulf, Bach, Lennart Thomas, Bellerby, Richard G J, Bermúdez Monsalve, Rafael, Boxhammer, Tim, Czerny, Jan, Larsen, Aud
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 2016
• Subjects: Biological Impacts of Ocean Acidification BIOACID; Ocean acidification
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/pangaea.868772; https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.868772

Coccolithophores -single-celled calcifying phytoplankton- are an important group of marine primary producers and the dominant builders of calcium carbonate globally. Coccolithophores form extensive blooms and increase the density and sinking speed of organic matter via calcium carbonate ballasting. Thereby, they play a key role in the marine carbon cycle. Coccolithophore physiological responses to experimental ocean acidification have ranged from moderate stimulation to substantial decline in growth and calcification rates, combined with enhanced malformation of their calcite platelets. Here we report on a mesocosm experiment conducted in a Norwegian fjord in which we exposed a natural plankton community to a wide range of CO2-induced ocean acidification, to test whether these physiological responses affect the ecological success of coccolithophore populations. Under high-CO2 treatments, Emiliania huxleyi, the most abundant and productive coccolithophore species, declined in population size during the ... : Supplement to: Riebesell, Ulf; Bach, Lennart Thomas; Bellerby, Richard G J; Bermúdez Monsalve, Rafael; Boxhammer, Tim; Czerny, Jan; Larsen, Aud; Ludwig, Andrea; Schulz, Kai Georg (2017): Competitive fitness of a predominant pelagic calcifier impaired by ocean acidification. Nature Geoscience, 10(1), 19-23 ...