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Marine Biology Commons

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Electronic Theses and Dissertations

2018

Ocean acidification

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Marine Biology

The Effects Of Ocean Acidification On The Gametogenesis Of The Red Tree Coral, Primnoa Pacifica, Ashley Rossin May 2018

The Effects Of Ocean Acidification On The Gametogenesis Of The Red Tree Coral, Primnoa Pacifica, Ashley Rossin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Primnoa pacifica, otherwise known as the Red Tree Coral, is one of the most ecologically important corals in the North Pacific. This species is an ecosystem engineer, providing essential habitat for commercially important fish and invertebrate species. Ocean acidification (OA) threatens corals and all calcifying organisms and is more prevalent in polar and sub-polar regions as the concentration of CO2 is higher and there is a lowered buffering capacity due to low alkalinity in colder waters. The impact from a chemical shift in the oceans could alter the role of P. pacifica as an ecosystem engineer in predicted ocean …


An Investigation Into The Physiological Impacts Of Ocean Acidification On Recruits Of The Temperate Coral, Oculina Arbuscula, Brianne Varnerin Jan 2018

An Investigation Into The Physiological Impacts Of Ocean Acidification On Recruits Of The Temperate Coral, Oculina Arbuscula, Brianne Varnerin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ocean acidification is well-researched with respect to adult scleractinian corals, however information on whether adults and recruits of the same species respond similarly to this environmental stress is lacking. I investigated the responses to increased pCO2 of recruits of the temperate coral, Oculina arbuscula, whose adults are known to withstand high levels of pCO2 with no depression in calcification (up to 1000 ppm CO2). I addressed the hypothesis that O. arbuscula recruit health is not affected by increased pCO2 by exposing small colonies (5-12mm diameter) to 475, 711, and 1270 ppm CO2 for …