Temperate and tropical brown macroalgae thrive, despite decalcification, along natural CO 2 gradients
Predicting the impacts of ocean acidification on coastal ecosystems requires an understanding of the effects on macroalgae and their grazers, as these underpin the ecology of rocky shores. Whilst calcified coralline algae (Rhodophyta) appear to be especially vulnerable to ocean acidification, there...
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ftunivhongkonghu:oai:hub.hku.hk:10722/213258 2023-05-15T17:49:48+02:00 Temperate and tropical brown macroalgae thrive, despite decalcification, along natural CO 2 gradients Johnson, Vivienne R. Russell, Bayden D. Hall-Spencer, Jason M. Brownlee, Colin Fabricius, Katharina E. 2012 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2012.02716.x http://hdl.handle.net/10722/213258 eng eng Global Change Biology Global Change Biology, 2012, v. 18, n. 9, p. 2792-2803 doi:10.1111/j.1365-2486.2012.02716.x 1365-2486 2803 1354-1013 9 eid_2-s2.0-84864598629 2792 http://hdl.handle.net/10722/213258 18 Ocean acidification Temperate and tropical coastal ecosystems Photosynthesis Calcification Article 2012 ftunivhongkonghu https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2012.02716.x 2023-01-14T16:07:56Z Predicting the impacts of ocean acidification on coastal ecosystems requires an understanding of the effects on macroalgae and their grazers, as these underpin the ecology of rocky shores. Whilst calcified coralline algae (Rhodophyta) appear to be especially vulnerable to ocean acidification, there is a lack of information concerning calcified brown algae (Phaeophyta), which are not obligate calcifiers but are still important producers of calcium carbonate and organic matter in shallow coastal waters. Here, we compare ecological shifts in subtidal rocky shore systems along CO 2 gradients created by volcanic seeps in the Mediterranean and Papua New Guinea, focussing on abundant macroalgae and grazing sea urchins. In both the temperate and tropical systems the abundances of grazing sea urchins declined dramatically along CO 2 gradients. Temperate and tropical species of the calcifying macroalgal genus Padina (Dictyoaceae, Phaeophyta) showed reductions in CaCO 3 content with CO 2 enrichment. In contrast to other studies of calcified macroalgae, however, we observed an increase in the abundance of Padina spp. in acidified conditions. Reduced sea urchin grazing pressure and significant increases in photosynthetic rates may explain the unexpected success of decalcified Padina spp. at elevated levels of CO 2. This is the first study to provide a comparison of ecological changes along CO 2 gradients between temperate and tropical rocky shores. The similarities we found in the responses of Padina spp. and sea urchin abundance at several vent systems increases confidence in predictions of the ecological impacts of ocean acidification over a large geographical range. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Link_to_subscribed_fulltext Article in Journal/Newspaper Ocean acidification University of Hong Kong: HKU Scholars Hub Global Change Biology 18 9 2792 2803 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Hong Kong: HKU Scholars Hub |
op_collection_id |
ftunivhongkonghu |
language |
English |
topic |
Ocean acidification Temperate and tropical coastal ecosystems Photosynthesis Calcification |
spellingShingle |
Ocean acidification Temperate and tropical coastal ecosystems Photosynthesis Calcification Johnson, Vivienne R. Russell, Bayden D. Hall-Spencer, Jason M. Brownlee, Colin Fabricius, Katharina E. Temperate and tropical brown macroalgae thrive, despite decalcification, along natural CO 2 gradients |
topic_facet |
Ocean acidification Temperate and tropical coastal ecosystems Photosynthesis Calcification |
description |
Predicting the impacts of ocean acidification on coastal ecosystems requires an understanding of the effects on macroalgae and their grazers, as these underpin the ecology of rocky shores. Whilst calcified coralline algae (Rhodophyta) appear to be especially vulnerable to ocean acidification, there is a lack of information concerning calcified brown algae (Phaeophyta), which are not obligate calcifiers but are still important producers of calcium carbonate and organic matter in shallow coastal waters. Here, we compare ecological shifts in subtidal rocky shore systems along CO 2 gradients created by volcanic seeps in the Mediterranean and Papua New Guinea, focussing on abundant macroalgae and grazing sea urchins. In both the temperate and tropical systems the abundances of grazing sea urchins declined dramatically along CO 2 gradients. Temperate and tropical species of the calcifying macroalgal genus Padina (Dictyoaceae, Phaeophyta) showed reductions in CaCO 3 content with CO 2 enrichment. In contrast to other studies of calcified macroalgae, however, we observed an increase in the abundance of Padina spp. in acidified conditions. Reduced sea urchin grazing pressure and significant increases in photosynthetic rates may explain the unexpected success of decalcified Padina spp. at elevated levels of CO 2. This is the first study to provide a comparison of ecological changes along CO 2 gradients between temperate and tropical rocky shores. The similarities we found in the responses of Padina spp. and sea urchin abundance at several vent systems increases confidence in predictions of the ecological impacts of ocean acidification over a large geographical range. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Link_to_subscribed_fulltext |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Johnson, Vivienne R. Russell, Bayden D. Hall-Spencer, Jason M. Brownlee, Colin Fabricius, Katharina E. |
author_facet |
Johnson, Vivienne R. Russell, Bayden D. Hall-Spencer, Jason M. Brownlee, Colin Fabricius, Katharina E. |
author_sort |
Johnson, Vivienne R. |
title |
Temperate and tropical brown macroalgae thrive, despite decalcification, along natural CO 2 gradients |
title_short |
Temperate and tropical brown macroalgae thrive, despite decalcification, along natural CO 2 gradients |
title_full |
Temperate and tropical brown macroalgae thrive, despite decalcification, along natural CO 2 gradients |
title_fullStr |
Temperate and tropical brown macroalgae thrive, despite decalcification, along natural CO 2 gradients |
title_full_unstemmed |
Temperate and tropical brown macroalgae thrive, despite decalcification, along natural CO 2 gradients |
title_sort |
temperate and tropical brown macroalgae thrive, despite decalcification, along natural co 2 gradients |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2012.02716.x http://hdl.handle.net/10722/213258 |
genre |
Ocean acidification |
genre_facet |
Ocean acidification |
op_relation |
Global Change Biology Global Change Biology, 2012, v. 18, n. 9, p. 2792-2803 doi:10.1111/j.1365-2486.2012.02716.x 1365-2486 2803 1354-1013 9 eid_2-s2.0-84864598629 2792 http://hdl.handle.net/10722/213258 18 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2012.02716.x |
container_title |
Global Change Biology |
container_volume |
18 |
container_issue |
9 |
container_start_page |
2792 |
op_container_end_page |
2803 |
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1766156262814253056 |