Ideas and Perspectives: When ocean acidification experiments are not the same, reproducibility is not tested

Abstract. Can experimental studies on the impacts of ocean acidification be trusted? That question was raised in early 2020 when a high-profile paper failed to corroborate previously-observed impacts of high CO2 on the behaviour of coral reef fish. New information on the methodologies used in the re...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Williamson, Phillip, Pörtner, Hans-Otto, Widdicombe, Steve, Gattuso, Jean-Pierre
Other Authors: Laboratoire d'océanographie de Villefranche (LOV), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de la Mer de Villefranche (IMEV), Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
Format: Report
Language:English
Published: HAL CCSD 2020
Subjects:
[SDU.STU.OC]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Oceanography
[SDU.ENVI]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Continental interfaces
environment
[SDU.OCEAN]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Ocean
Atmosphere
[SDE.ES]Environmental Sciences/Environmental and Society
[SDE.MCG]Environmental Sciences/Global Changes
Ocean acidification
Online Access:https://hal.science/hal-03089971
https://hal.science/hal-03089971/document
https://hal.science/hal-03089971/file/Williamson_etal_2020_Biogeosciences%20Discussions.pdf
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2020-394
Description
Summary:Abstract. Can experimental studies on the impacts of ocean acidification be trusted? That question was raised in early 2020 when a high-profile paper failed to corroborate previously-observed impacts of high CO2 on the behaviour of coral reef fish. New information on the methodologies used in the replicated studies now provides the explanation: the experimental conditions were substantially different. High sensitivity to test conditions is characteristic of ocean acidification research; such response variability shows that effects are complex, interacting with many other factors. Open-minded assessment of all research results, both negative and positive, remains the best way to develop process-based understanding of those responses. Whilst replication studies can provide valuable insights and challenges, they can unfortunately also be counter-productive to scientific advancement if carried out in a spirit of confrontation rather than collaboration.

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