17
May
Ocean Acidification Effect On Phytoplankton. Consequently climate-driven shifts in oceanic primary production will have major consequences not only for carbon export but also for the structure and functioning of the entire marine biome. Our research into the effects of CO₂-induced changes to microscopic ocean algae. The main cause of ocean acidification is the burning of fossil fuelsSeawater is slightly basic meaning pH 7 and ocean acidification involves a shift towards pH-neutral conditions rather than a transition to acidic conditions pH 7. Phytoplankton play an important role as primary producers of aquatic systems.
Phytoplankton are the oceans principal source of polyunsaturated fatty acids that support the growth and reproduction of consumers such as copepods. The net rate of organic carbon production determines support for higher trophic levels. Ocean acidification is the ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earths oceans caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide CO 2 from the atmosphere. Our findings suggest that ocean acidification can have indirect positive effects on important secondary producers such as copepods when CO 2-enhanced primary production and biomass of phytoplankton are transferred up the food web. So once carbon dioxide is in the atmosphere itll dissolve into the surface. Warming will lead to shifts in taxonomic composition of phytoplankton as observed in previous experiments summarized in 22.
Primary production in a future ocean.
Direct effects between ocean acidification and photosynthetic ability have been observed to increase under elevated pCO 2 Rost et al. The phytoplankton community upon which this chemostatic experiment will be using comes from the North Atlantic. Phytoplankton form the foundation of the marine food web and regulate key biogeochemical processes. A slower Fe uptake by a model diatom with decreasing pH is also seen in experiments with Atlantic surface water. Addition of CO 2 will lead to increased phytoplankton biomass because acidification sensitive coccolithophores 5 6 are lacking in the Baltic Sea and CO 2 might be a limiting resource 6 12. Marine phytoplankton play a pivotal role in the oceanic carbon cycle and fuel the marine food web.