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Acidification may detrimentally alter Arctic marine life biodiversity.
| Researchers Helen Findlay Ceri Lewis
| Institutes Plymouth Marine Laboratory University of Exeter
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Background The oceans are swarming with tiny organisms that, whilst invisible to the naked eye, play a vital role in the delicate balance of the whole marine ecosystem.
Minute plant life such as algae and phytoplankton are responsible for around half of the Earth’s primary production – that’s to say they produce organic matter from aquatic CO2, principally through the process of photosynthesis.
All life on the planet is directly or indirectly reliant on primary production, and such marine plants thus form the foundations of the marine food web. They act as fodder for microscopic marine animals (zooplankton), which in turn are fed on by larger and larger sea creatures.
There are microbial communities too, such as viruses and bacteria, which play a role in feeding on dead organisms, recycling nutrients and feeding back into the marine system.
We know that these organisms are sensitive to ocean acidification, particularly during their early developmental and reproductive stages, but little is known about how the Arctic marine communities are likely to respond to the rapid changes taking place in their environment. |
Planned Research The aim of the research is threefold:
1) Investigating microorganism species present
Research will be undertaken to determine the tiny microorganism species and bacteria living in the Arctic waters and whether any shifts in populations occur over the experimental period from winter to spring. This will be compared with any shifts in the chemical make-up of the water.
2) Determining cold water algae present
Cold-water algae (which are primary producers) present on the bottom of the sea ice will be collected using equipment that resembles a pan scourer. This will determine the species that exist there and provide some baseline data against which future research comparisons can be made.
3) Examine the impacts of acidifying seawater on the populations present
Mesocosms (special experimental enclosures in the natural seawater environment) or artificial aquaria will be established and the species type, number, health and developmental stages of all organisms present recorded.
Simulating how CO2 is transferred into seawater from the atmosphere, two different concentrations of the gas will be passed through these mesocosms. The first will reflect existing 2010 levels; the second will reflect atmospheric CO2 levels expected in the year 2100 if emissions are not altered. Controls will also be set up.
The effects on all organisms at these different CO2 levels will be measured, including the level of stress proteins (proteins in the cell which increase when triggered by exposure to environmental stress). Snapshots of the physiology of cells under various conditions will also be taken.
Provided gametes and/or larva is available, reproductive endpoints such as spawning behaviour, brood size, resultant population fertility etc, will also be studied. The developmental stability of the organisms and larval physiology will also be observed.
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