Article
Biology
Kristen T. Brown, Matheus A. Mello-Athayde, Eugenia M. Sampayo, Aaron Chai, Sophie Dove, Katie L. Barott
Summary: Ocean acidification poses a growing threat to coral growth and coral reef ecosystems. Corals that have experienced pCO(2) fluctuations may be more resilient to acidification and better able to survive in future reefs.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
A. E. Lawman, S. G. Dee, K. L. DeLong, A. M. S. Correa
Summary: Rising temperatures and ocean acidification due to climate change pose significant threats to coral reef ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean Sea. The decline in coral reefs since the 1970s has been substantial, with few reefs still exhibiting healthy coral cover. This study uses climate model simulations to assess the individual impacts of climate stressors on corals and highlights the need for mitigation efforts to protect these ecosystems.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Alyx P. Terrell, Emma Marangon, Nicole S. Webster, Ira Cooke, Kate M. Quigley
Summary: The symbiotic relationship between coral and its endosymbiotic algae greatly affects their ability to withstand environmental stress. Most studies have focused on adult corals, but it is important to understand the effects of stress on the establishment of symbiosis in early life stages to predict coral's response to climate change.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ronen Liberman, Maoz Fine, Yehuda Benayahu
Summary: Climate change affects the sexual reproduction and photosynthetic capacity of Red Sea coral, leading to changes in reproductive timing and synchronicity. Survival and metamorphosis rates of offspring reared under simulated conditions are significantly reduced, highlighting potential long-term impacts on the coral population.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rebecca Albright, Lina Hansson, Sarah R. Cooley, Jean-Pierre Gattuso, Paul Marshall, Nadine Marshall, Stephen Fletcher, Gunnar Haraldsson, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg
Summary: This paper presents a framework for assessing the readiness of policy to address ocean acidification, focusing on coral reefs as a case study. The framework encompasses six dimensions that encompass comprehensive preparation for the impacts of ocean acidification and other anthropogenic hazards. Standardized indicators are defined, leading countries are identified, and the case study of Australia, with its largest coral reef system, is evaluated. The framework provides a rubric for self-assessing policy preparedness and prioritizing future endeavors.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Robert van Woesik, Tom Shlesinger, Andrea G. Grottoli, Rob J. Toonen, Rebecca Vega Thurber, Mark E. Warner, Ann Marie Hulver, Leila Chapron, Rowan H. McLachlan, Rebecca Albright, Eric Crandall, Thomas M. DeCarlo, Mary K. Donovan, Jose Eirin-Lopez, Hugo B. Harrison, Scott F. Heron, Danwei Huang, Adriana Humanes, Thomas Krueger, Joshua S. Madin, Derek Manzello, Lisa C. McManus, Mikhail Matz, Erinn M. Muller, Mauricio Rodriguez-Lanetty, Maria Vega-Rodriguez, Christian R. Voolstra, Jesse Zaneveld
Summary: The global impacts of climate change are evident in every marine ecosystem, particularly on coral reefs where mass coral bleaching and mortality are common responses. Linking information across scientific disciplines and scales is a major challenge, but adopting an integrative approach can advance coral-reef science and guide conservation efforts. Establishing networks of protected reefs across national boundaries may be the best chance for corals to persist through climate change.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Christopher Edward Cornwall, Steeve Comeau, Simon D. Donner, Chris Perry, John Dunne, Ruben van Hooidonk, Steve Ryan, Cheryl Annette Logan
Summary: Projecting the effects of climate change on net reef calcium carbonate production is crucial, especially considering corals' natural adaptive capacity to such change. This study estimates how symbiont evolution and shuffling may influence responses to ocean warming and acidification under different emissions scenarios. The results show that symbiont adaptive capacity can favor positive net reef calcium carbonate production, but the projections vary spatially and by emissions scenario.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alice E. Webb, Ian C. Enochs, Ruben van Hooidonk, Rene M. van Wester, Nicole Besemer, Graham Kolodzier, T. Shay Viehman, Derek P. Manzello
Summary: In order for reef frameworks to persist, the production of calcium carbonate by corals and other calcifying organisms must exceed the losses caused by erosion. However, this balance is currently threatened by ocean warming and acidification. A modelling approach was developed to forecast habitat persistence under different emission scenarios and to examine the effects of restoration and coral thermal adaptation. The results showed that net carbonate production declines once the threshold for severe bleaching is reached, but mitigation and adaptation can delay the switch from net accretion to erosion.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Louise P. Cameron, Claire E. Reymond, Jelle Bijma, Janina Buescher, Dirk De Beer, Maxence Guillermic, Robert A. Eagle, John Gunnell, Fiona Mueller-Lundin, Gertraud M. Schmidt-Grieb, Isaac Westfield, Hildegard Westphal, Justin B. Ries
Summary: This study investigates the complex responses of corals to global change. The results suggest that tropical corals exhibit a reduced calcification response to increased pCO(2) when they lose their symbionts under high-temperature treatments. In contrast, a cold-water coral shows a negative calcification response to increasing pCO(2), which is partially alleviated under elevated temperature. All corals are able to elevate the pH of their calcifying fluid under increased pCO(2).
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Steeve Comeau, Christopher E. Cornwall, Tom Shlesinger, Mia Hoogenboom, Ralph Mana, Malcolm T. McCulloch, Riccardo Rodolfo-Metalpa
Summary: This study examines multiple coral species from two CO2 seeps in Papua New Guinea to assess their ability to control their calcifying fluid chemistry. The researchers find that corals living in low but highly variable pH environments have a greater ability to maintain constant CF pH. However, corals with limited pH reduction in less variable low pH seawater tend to be more abundant at the seep sites. The findings suggest a potential association between ecological success and greater pH homeostasis, but more research is needed.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Veronica van der Schyff, Marinus du Preez, Karin Blom, Nee Sun Choong Kwet Yive, Jana Klanova, Petra Pribylova, Ondrej Audy, Jakub Martinik, Hindrik Bouwman
Summary: Persistent halogenated compounds were found in coral reef biota from tropical islands in the western Indian Ocean, including traditional organic pollutants and new compounds. Different species of corals and fish showed varying concentrations and patterns of PHCs, indicating the need for targeted sampling in future surveys. Agalega and St. Brandon's Atoll can serve as monitoring sites for changes in pollutant concentrations due to their remoteness.
Article
Ecology
Ariel Greiner, Marco Andrello, Emily Darling, Martin Krkosek, Marie-Josee Fortin
Summary: The study aims to determine the connectivity of coral reefs and the level of future coral cover under global scenarios of coral bleaching loss and potential recovery. The findings emphasize the importance of maintaining functional coral reef habitat outside of predicted climate refugia to sustain connectivity globally.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Courtney N. Klepac, Katherine R. Eaton, Chelsea G. Petrik, Lindsay N. Arick, Emily R. Hall, Erinn M. Muller
Summary: The decline of coral health and loss of coral cover in Florida's Coral Reef are caused by both local stressors, such as degraded water quality and disease outbreaks, and anthropogenically driven global stressors, including ocean warming and acidification. To restore degraded reef habitats, intervention strategies need to consider the influence of ocean warming and acidification on coral health and select resistant or resilient coral species and individual genotypes. This study examined the physiological responses of threatened reef-building corals to experimentally elevated water temperatures and pCO(2) levels, finding differential responses by coral species and associated algal symbionts. High genetic variation in nursery-reared corals contributes to variable warming-acidification responses, suggesting the importance of genetic diversity in coral restoration efforts.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
M. O. H. D. TARIQUE, W. A. L. I. U. R. RAHAMAN
Summary: This study evaluates the trend and influencing factors of ocean acidification using boron isotopic composition of corals as a proxy. The results show that anthropogenic CO2 emissions are the main cause of ocean acidification, with atmospheric CO2 forcing as the primary factor contributing to pH variability. Physical oceanographic factors/processes modulated by Pacific oscillations such as ENSO and PDO also play a role in pH variability. In addition, coral metabolic processes may control a significant portion of pH variability. Furthermore, there has been a significant increase in pH variability associated with ENSO events since the 1970s, which could have critical implications for the resilience and adaptability of corals and other calcifying organisms.
JOURNAL OF EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Elena Couce, Benjamin Cowburn, David Clare, Joanna K. Bluemel
Summary: Coral reef ecosystems are projected to experience significant declines due to ocean warming and acidification. This study examines the environmental resilience of over 650 coral species and predicts a substantial decrease in coral species richness globally, with a potential net loss ranging from 73% to 91% by 2080-2090. The Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, Western Indian Ocean, and Caribbean are expected to be severely impacted. Mitigating climate change is crucial to prevent massive coral species extinctions.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Kristy J. Kroeker, Eric Sanford
Summary: As marine ecosystems face increasing impacts from global environmental changes, focusing on physiology research can enhance our ability to predict the effects of ocean change, particularly in understanding species interactions and ecological leverage points sensitive to environmental changes.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Emily M. Donham, Lauren T. Strope, Scott L. Hamilton, Kristy J. Kroeker
Summary: Understanding the effects of upwelling on marine organisms is crucial due to ongoing environmental changes. This study used in-situ measurements to characterize the relationship between upwelling intensity and environmental conditions in kelp forest ecosystems. The researchers found that increasing upwelling intensity resulted in reduced respiratory, grazing, growth, and net calcification rates for certain kelp forest grazers. These findings suggest that current exposure to upwelling may reduce species performance and future increases in upwelling frequency and intensity could impact ecosystem function.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Torrey R. Gorra, Sabrina C. R. Garcia, Michael R. Langhans, Umihiko Hoshijima, James A. Estes, Pete T. Raimondi, M. Tim Tinker, Michael C. Kenner, Kristy J. Kroeker
Summary: Recognizing that humans are part of the complex interaction networks we study can provide new insights into ecological paradigms. This study examines the effects of human harvesting on otter-urchin-kelp trophic cascades in southeast Alaska, using three decades of time-series data.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Juhyung Lee, Brent B. Hughes, Kristy J. Kroeker, Ava Owens, Candace Wong, Fiorenza Micheli
Summary: Global stressors are impacting ecosystem resistance and functioning by reorganizing vital species interactions. Different species show varied responses to stressors, which can have significant consequences on ecosystem dynamics.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Juhyung Lee, Maria Cristina Gambi, Kristy J. Kroeker, Marco Munari, Kabir Peay, Fiorenza Micheli
Summary: This study examines the impact of ocean acidification on seagrass decomposition in a naturally acidified seagrass ecosystem. The results show that acidification reduces the richness and diversity of seagrass detritivores, but increases the abundance of dominant detritivores. These changes lead to a more than threefold increase in detritivore abundance in lower pH zones, and acidification accelerates the decomposition of seagrass detritus. The findings suggest that ocean acidification can restructure consumer assemblages and modify plant decomposition in blue carbon ecosystems, with implications for carbon sequestration, nutrient recycling, and trophic transfer.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
John Morris, Ian Enochs, Alice Webb, Didier de Bakker, Nash Soderberg, Graham Kolodziej, Derek Manzello
Summary: Ocean acidification is expected to affect coral reef ecosystems by changing calcification, bioerosion, and physiology of marine organisms. The study found that diurnal fluctuations in carbonate chemistry can impact the bioerosion rates of sponges, and this effect may be intensified by photosynthetic symbionts.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Lauren E. Bell, Kristy J. Kroeker
Summary: This study investigated the production dynamics of giant kelp beds in high latitude fringe habitats in southeast Alaska, finding that the productivity rates were lower compared to lower latitudes. Despite the higher productivity of giant kelp compared to understory kelps, differences in growth and carbon and nitrogen content among the three kelp species suggest their complementary nutritional value.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ellen Willis-Norton, Mark H. Carr, Elliott L. Hazen, Kristy J. Kroeker
Summary: Early life history stages of marine fishes are more vulnerable to environmental stressors than adult stages. This study focused on lingcod, a benthic egg layer, and found that future temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen conditions significantly reduced the successful hatch, larval size, yolk reserves, and caused wide-ranging deformities. Lingcod could serve as an indicator species for other benthic egg layers affected by global change.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Benjamin S. Halpern, Carl Boettiger, Michael C. Dietze, Jessica A. Gephart, Patrick Gonzalez, Nancy B. Grimm, Peter M. Groffman, Jessica Gurevitch, Sarah E. Hobbie, Kimberly J. Komatsu, Kristy J. Kroeker, Heather J. Lahr, David M. Lodge, Christopher J. Lortie, Julie S. S. Lowndes, Fiorenza Micheli, Hugh P. Possingham, Mary H. Ruckelshaus, Courtney Scarborough, Chelsea L. Wood, Grace C. Wu, Lina Aoyama, Eva E. Arroyo, Christie A. Bahlai, Erin E. Beller, Rachael E. Blake, Karrigan S. Bork, Trevor A. Branch, Norah E. M. Brown, Julien Brun, Emilio M. Bruna, Lauren B. Buckley, Jessica L. Burnett, Max C. N. Castorani, Samantha H. Cheng, Sarah C. Cohen, Jessica L. Couture, Larry B. Crowder, Laura E. Dee, Arildo S. Dias, Ignacio J. Diaz-Maroto, Martha R. Downs, Joan C. Dudney, Erle C. Ellis, Kyle A. Emery, Jacob G. Eurich, Bridget E. Ferriss, Alexa Fredston, Hikaru Furukawa, Sara A. Gagne, Sarah R. Garlick, Colin J. Garroway, Kaitlyn M. Gaynor, Angelica L. Gonzalez, Eliza M. Grames, Tamar Guy-Haim, Ed Hackett, Lauren M. Hallett, Tamara K. Harms, Danielle E. Haulsee, Kyle J. Haynes, Elliott L. Hazen, Rebecca M. Jarvis, Kristal Jones, Gaurav S. Kandlikar, Dustin W. Kincaid, Matthew L. Knope, Anil Koirala, Jurek Kolasa, John S. Kominoski, Julia Koricheva, Lesley T. Lancaster, Jake A. Lawlor, Heili E. Lowman, Frank E. Muller-Karger, Kari E. A. Norman, Nan Nourn, Casey C. O'Hara, Suzanne X. Ou, Jacqueline L. Padilla-Gamino, Paula Pappalardo, Ryan A. Peek, Dominique Pelletier, Stephen Plont, Lauren C. Ponisio, Cristina Portales-Reyes, Diogo B. Provete, Eric J. Raes, Carlos Ramirez-Reyes, Irene Ramos, Sydne Record, Anthony J. Richardson, Roberto Salguero-Gomez, Erin Satterthwaite, Chloe Schmidt, Aaron J. Schwartz, Craig R. See, Brendan D. Shea, Rachel S. Smith, Eric R. Sokol, Christopher T. Solomon, Trisha Spanbauer, Paris Stefanoudis, Beckett W. Sterner, Vitor Sudbrack, Jonathan D. Tonkin, Ashley R. Townes, Mireia Valle, Jonathan A. Walter, Kathryn Wheeler, William R. Wieder, David R. Williams, Marten Winter, Barbora Winterova, Lucy C. Woodall, Adam S. Wymore, Casey Youngflesh
Summary: Synthesis research in ecology and environmental science is important for improving understanding, advancing theory, identifying research priorities, and supporting management strategies. A virtual workshop with participants from different countries and disciplines was held to discuss how synthesis can address key questions and themes in the field in the next decade. Seven priority research topics and two issues regarding synthesis practices were identified, providing a strategic vision for future synthesis in ecology and environmental science.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emily M. Donham, Iris Flores, Alexis Hooper, Evan O'Brien, Kate Vylet, Yuichiro Takeshita, Jan Freiwald, Kristy J. Kroeker
Summary: Variation in environmental conditions across a species' range can affect their responses to environmental change through local adaptation and acclimation. However, ecosystems with tightly coupled environmental conditions may pose challenges for evolutionary responses, particularly when changes in environmental covariance occur. This study conducted a 3-month long mesocosm experiment and found evidence of local adaptation/acclimation in red sea urchin populations to multiple environmental drivers, but with different responses to projected changes. The results highlight the potential for local adaptation/acclimation to multivariate environmental regimes and the importance of identifying physiological thresholds in key environmental drivers for preserving biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Heidi K. K. Hirsh, Thomas A. A. Oliver, Hannah C. C. Barkley, Johanna L. K. Wren, Stephen G. G. Monismith, Derek P. P. Manzello, Ian C. C. Enochs
Summary: To accurately predict the impacts of ocean acidification on shallow-water ecosystems, it is crucial to consider the biogeochemical impact of local benthic communities and the connectivity between offshore and onshore water masses. Estimation of residence time can help quantify this connectivity and determine the influence of benthic ecosystems on the chemistry of the water column. The study provides estimates of nearshore residence time for Guam and demonstrates the importance of including residence time in models to better predict biogeochemical variability in coral reef environments.
AQUATIC GEOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Cascade J. B. Sorte, Kristy J. J. Kroeker, Luke P. P. Miller, Matthew E. S. Bracken
Summary: Biological processes have a significant impact on how global changes are manifested locally. The absorption of increased CO2 by primary producers through photosynthesis affects the pH in aquatic ecosystems, but respiration by producers and consumers also leads to increased CO2. It is uncertain whether the biological modification of pH varies throughout the year and what factors contribute to temporal differences. This study examined tide pool ecosystems in Alaska over two years and found that pH modification varied spatially and temporally, with patterns corresponding to changes in dissolved oxygen and community composition.
Article
Limnology
Kristy J. Kroeker, Emily M. Donham, Kate Vylet, Joseph K. Warren, Julia Cheresh, Jerome Fiechter, Jan Freiwald, Yuichiro Takeshita
Summary: In upwelling systems, fluctuations in seawater pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), and temperature can lead to exposure to extreme conditions for marine species. This study characterized the variability and covariance among these drivers using a time series of observations and a simulation for the California coast. It found that sites with strong upwelling had the greatest intensity and duration of exposure to extreme pH and DO conditions, while sites with weak upwelling had higher and more variable temperature.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Yingqi Zhang, Shelby E. Gantt, Elise F. Keister, Holland Elder, Graham Kolodziej, Catalina Aguilar, Michael S. Studivan, Dana E. Williams, Dustin W. Kemp, Derek P. Manzello, Ian C. Enochs, Carly D. Kenkel
Summary: Contrary to expectations, the study found that purebred larval offspring of the nearshore mountainous star coral exhibited higher survival rates and lower stress response gene expression profiles under elevated temperature. One potential explanation could be the compromised reproductive output of the nearshore population due to summer bleaching events, resulting in lower storage lipid content in their gametes.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Melissa Ward, Tye L. Kindinger, Heidi K. Hirsh, Tessa M. Hill, Brittany M. Jellison, Sarah Lummis, Emily B. Rivest, George G. Waldbusser, Brian Gaylord, Kristy J. Kroeker
Summary: This study synthesizes the results from 56 studies on seagrass meadow metabolism and highlights the spatial and temporal variability in oxygen fluxes. The study finds that daytime net community production is generally positive and similar across seasons and geographies. The study also observes positive correlations between gross primary production and temperature, but these effects may vary between temperate and tropical ecosystems.