Near-future reductions in pH will have no consistent ecological effects on the early life-history stages of reef corals

Chua, Chia-Miin, Leggat, William, Moya, Aurelie, and Baird, Andrew H. (2013) Near-future reductions in pH will have no consistent ecological effects on the early life-history stages of reef corals. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 486. pp. 143-151.

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Abstract

Until recently, research into the consequences of oceanic uptake of CO₂ for corals focused on its effect on physiological processes, in particular, calcification. However, events early in the life history of corals are also likely to be vulnerable to changes in ocean chemistry caused by increases in the atmospheric concentration of CO₂ (ocean acidification). We tested the effect of reduced pH on embryonic development, larval survivorship and metamorphosis of 3 common scleractinian corals from the Great Barrier Reef. We used 4 treatment levels of pH, corresponding to the current level of ocean pH and 3 values projected to occur later this century. None of the early life-history stages we studied were consistently affected by reduced pH. Our results suggest that there will be no direct ecological effects of ocean acidification on the early life-history stages of reef corals, at least in the near future.

Item ID: 29194
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1616-1599
Keywords: acropora; climate change; coral reefs; development; dispersal; recruitment; survivorship
Funders: Australian Research Council (ARC)
Date Deposited: 05 Sep 2013 06:02
FoR Codes: 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0602 Ecology > 060203 Ecological Physiology @ 100%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9603 Climate and Climate Change > 960399 Climate and Climate Change not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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