Ocean acidification and warming scenarios increase microbioerosion of coral skeletons

Biological mediation of carbonate dissolution represents a fundamental component of the destructive forces acting on coral reef ecosystems. Whereas ocean acidification can increase dissolution of carbonate substrates, the combined impact of ocean acidification and warming on the microbioerosion of c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Global Change Biology
Main Authors: Reyes-Nivia, Catalina, Diaz-Pulido, Guillermo, Kline, David, Guldberg, Ove-Hoegh, Dove, Sophie
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley-Blackwell 2013
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Online Access:https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:302958
Description
Summary:Biological mediation of carbonate dissolution represents a fundamental component of the destructive forces acting on coral reef ecosystems. Whereas ocean acidification can increase dissolution of carbonate substrates, the combined impact of ocean acidification and warming on the microbioerosion of coral skeletons remains unknown. Here, we exposed skeletons of the reef-building corals, Porites cylindrica and Isopora cuneata, to present-day (Control: 400 atm 24 degrees C) and future pCO2temperature scenarios projected for the end of the century (Medium: +230 atm +2 degrees C; High: +610 atm +4 degrees C). Skeletons were also subjected to permanent darkness with initial sodium hypochlorite incubation, and natural light without sodium hypochlorite incubation to isolate the environmental effect of acidic seawater (i.e., aragonite