Diverse coral communities in naturally acidified waters of a Western Pacific reef

• Main Authors: Shamberger, K E F, Cohen, Anne L, Golbuu, Yimnang, McCorkle, Daniel C, Lentz, S J, Barkley, Hannah C
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 2014
• Subjects: Alkalinity; total; Aragonite saturation state; standard error; Benthos; Bicarbonate ion; Calcite saturation state; Calculated using CO2SYS; Calculated using seacarb after Nisumaa et al. (2010); Carbon; inorganic; dissolved; Carbonate ion; Carbonate system computation flag; Carbon dioxide; Coast and continental shelf; Community composition and diversity; Coulometric titration; Coverage; Diversity; Entire community; EXP; Experiment; Field observation; Fugacity of carbon dioxide (water) at sea surface temperature (wet air); North Pacific; OA-ICC; Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre; Palauan_reef; Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (water) at sea surface temperature (wet air); pH; Potentiometric titration; Rocky-shore community; Salinity; Site; Species richness; Temperature; water; Tropical; Pacific; Ocean acidification
• Online Access: https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.833900; https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.833900

Anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions are acidifying the oceans, reducing the concentration of carbonate ions ([CO32-) that calcifying organisms need to build and cement coral reefs. To date, studies of a handful of naturally acidified reef systems reveal depauperate communities, sometimes with reduced coral cover and calcification rates, consistent with results of laboratory-based studies. Here we report the existence of highly diverse, coral-dominated reef communities under chronically low pH and aragonite saturation state (Omega ar). Biological and hydrographic processes change the chemistry of the seawater moving across the barrier reefs and into Palau's Rock Island bays, where levels of acidification approach those projected for the western tropical Pacific open ocean by 2100. Nevertheless, coral diversity, cover, and calcification rates are maintained across this natural acidification gradient. Identifying the combination of biological and environmental factors that enable these communities to persist could provide important insights into the future of coral reefs under anthropogenic acidification.