Rapid multi-generational acclimation of coralline algal reproductive structures to ocean acidification ...

• Main Authors: Moore, Billy, Comeau, Steeve, Bekaert, Matthieu, Cossias, Amelie, Purdy, Ashley, Larcombe, Ellis, Puerzer, Frankie, McCulloch, Malcolm, Cornwall, Christopher
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: Dryad 2021
• Subjects: FOS Earth and related environmental sciences; conceptacles; coralline algae; multi-generational; pH variability; Ocean acidification
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.280gb5mpv; https://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.280gb5mpv

The future of coral reef ecosystems is under threat because vital reef-accreting species such as coralline algae are highly susceptible to ocean acidification. Although ocean acidification is known to reduce coralline algal growth rates, its direct effects on the development of coralline algal reproductive structures (conceptacles) is largely unknown. Furthermore, the long-term, multi-generational response of coralline algae to ocean acidification is extremely understudied. Here, we investigate how mean pH, pH variability and the pH regime experienced in their natural habitat affect coralline algal conceptacle abundance and size, across six generations of exposure. We show that second generation coralline algae exposed to ocean acidifcation treatments had conceptacle abundances 60% lower than those kept in present day conditions, suggesting that conceptacle development is initially highly sensitive to ocean acidification. However, this negative effect of ocean acidification on conceptacle abundance ... : Data is from a long-term multi-generational study, in which coralline algae were exposed to various ocean acidification and control treatments for seven generations. Conceptacle abundance and size measurements were collected via image analysis of microscopic images. ...