Calcification of the cold-water coral &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Lophelia pertusa&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; under ambient and reduced pH

Maier, Cornelia; Hegeman, J.; Weinbauer, Markus G.; Gattuso, Jean‐Pierre

doi:10.5194/bgd-6-1875-2009

Cited by 24 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…This change can have a profound impact on calcifying fauna. Aragonite, high magnesium calcite and calcite are the main calcium carbonate crystals made by these organisms and, because high magnesium calcite and aragonite are more soluble than calcite, the species that use these compounds – such as scleractinian corals and echinoderms – are more vulnerable and will be the first to be affected [233]–[236]. Deep-water corals are one of the most important taxa to be affected, both because of their contribution to deep-water diversity and because of their structural role in providing habitat to a variety of other species [237].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Man and the Last Great Wilderness: Human Impact on the Deep Sea

et al. 2011

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The deep sea, the largest ecosystem on Earth and one of the least studied, harbours high biodiversity and provides a wealth of resources. Although humans have used the oceans for millennia, technological developments now allow exploitation of fisheries resources, hydrocarbons and minerals below 2000 m depth. The remoteness of the deep seafloor has promoted the disposal of residues and litter. Ocean acidification and climate change now bring a new dimension of global effects. Thus the challenges facing the deep sea are large and accelerating, providing a new imperative for the science community, industry and national and international organizations to work together to develop successful exploitation management and conservation of the deep-sea ecosystem. This paper provides scientific expert judgement and a semi-quantitative analysis of past, present and future impacts of human-related activities on global deep-sea habitats within three categories: disposal, exploitation and climate change. The analysis is the result of a Census of Marine Life – SYNDEEP workshop (September 2008). A detailed review of known impacts and their effects is provided. The analysis shows how, in recent decades, the most significant anthropogenic activities that affect the deep sea have evolved from mainly disposal (past) to exploitation (present). We predict that from now and into the future, increases in atmospheric CO2 and facets and consequences of climate change will have the most impact on deep-sea habitats and their fauna. Synergies between different anthropogenic pressures and associated effects are discussed, indicating that most synergies are related to increased atmospheric CO2 and climate change effects. We identify deep-sea ecosystems we believe are at higher risk from human impacts in the near future: benthic communities on sedimentary upper slopes, cold-water corals, canyon benthic communities and seamount pelagic and benthic communities. We finalise this review with a short discussion on protection and management methods.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Man and the Last Great Wilderness: Human Impact on the Deep Sea

et al. 2011

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“…Furthermore, this high variation in coral-associated assemblages may reflect local, inter-colony differences in host status, such as genetic identity [45], physiological condition [46], or developmental state ([47] and references therein). In their study of M. oculata -associated microbes, Hansson et al [29] also reported significant inter-colony differences, which may even be further enhanced by intra-colony differences between single polyps [48], [49]. In addition to passive controls, bacterial colonization may also be actively regulated by the coral host (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Spatial Scales of Bacterial Diversity in Cold-Water Coral Reef Ecosystems

et al. 2012

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BackgroundCold-water coral reef ecosystems are recognized as biodiversity hotspots in the deep sea, but insights into their associated bacterial communities are still limited. Deciphering principle patterns of bacterial community variation over multiple spatial scales may however prove critical for a better understanding of factors contributing to cold-water coral reef stability and functioning.Methodology/Principal FindingsBacterial community structure, as determined by Automated Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis (ARISA), was investigated with respect to (i) microbial habitat type and (ii) coral species and color, as well as the three spatial components (iii) geomorphologic reef zoning, (iv) reef boundary, and (v) reef location. Communities revealed fundamental differences between coral-generated (branch surface, mucus) and ambient microbial habitats (seawater, sediments). This habitat specificity appeared pivotal for determining bacterial community shifts over all other study levels investigated. Coral-derived surfaces showed species-specific patterns, differing significantly between Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata, but not between L. pertusa color types. Within the reef center, no community distinction corresponded to geomorphologic reef zoning for both coral-generated and ambient microbial habitats. Beyond the reef center, however, bacterial communities varied considerably from local to regional scales, with marked shifts toward the reef periphery as well as between different in- and offshore reef sites, suggesting significant biogeographic imprinting but weak microbe-host specificity.Conclusions/SignificanceThis study presents the first multi-scale survey of bacterial diversity in cold-water coral reefs, spanning a total of five observational levels including three spatial scales. It demonstrates that bacterial communities in cold-water coral reefs are structured by multiple factors acting at different spatial scales, which has fundamental implications for the monitoring of microbial diversity and function in those ecosystems.

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“…So far only three experimental studies on the effects of ocean acidification have been published. The rate of net calcification of Lophelia pertusa from Norwegian waters was shown to decline under future pCO 2 conditions [19], [20], while no or even a positive long-term (6 months) response of net calcification was observed [20]. A third study investigated the short-term response of net calcification of the Mediterranean coral Madrepora oculata under pCO 2 values reflecting past, pre-industrial and future conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More than 70% of cold-water coral communities are found in regions that will be undersaturated with respect to aragonite by the end of the century [23]. However, experimental as well as observational evidence has shown that some cold-water corals are able to cope and maintain positive skeletal growth even in waters undersaturated in Ω a [19], [20], [24]. Furthermore, the study of Form & Riebesell [20] found a decline of net calcification at elevated pCO 2 in a short-term experiment and a stimulating effect in a long-term experiment from which they concluded that the cold-water coral L. pertusa is able to acclimate to higher pCO 2 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

End of the Century pCO2 Levels Do Not Impact Calcification in Mediterranean Cold-Water Corals

et al. 2013

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Ocean acidification caused by anthropogenic uptake of CO2 is perceived to be a major threat to calcifying organisms. Cold-water corals were thought to be strongly affected by a decrease in ocean pH due to their abundance in deep and cold waters which, in contrast to tropical coral reef waters, will soon become corrosive to calcium carbonate. Calcification rates of two Mediterranean cold-water coral species, Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata, were measured under variable partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) that ranged between 380 µatm for present-day conditions and 930 µatm for the end of the century. The present study addressed both short- and long-term responses by repeatedly determining calcification rates on the same specimens over a period of 9 months. Besides studying the direct, short-term response to elevated pCO2 levels, the study aimed to elucidate the potential for acclimation of calcification of cold-water corals to ocean acidification. Net calcification of both species was unaffected by the levels of pCO2 investigated and revealed no short-term shock and, therefore, no long-term acclimation in calcification to changes in the carbonate chemistry. There was an effect of time during repeated experiments with increasing net calcification rates for both species, however, as this pattern was found in all treatments, there is no indication that acclimation of calcification to ocean acidification occurred. The use of controls (initial and ambient net calcification rates) indicated that this increase was not caused by acclimation in calcification response to higher pCO2. An extrapolation of these data suggests that calcification of these two cold-water corals will not be affected by the pCO2 level projected at the end of the century.

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Calcification of the cold-water coral <i>Lophelia pertusa</i> under ambient and reduced pH

Cited by 24 publications

References 40 publications

Man and the Last Great Wilderness: Human Impact on the Deep Sea

Man and the Last Great Wilderness: Human Impact on the Deep Sea

Spatial Scales of Bacterial Diversity in Cold-Water Coral Reef Ecosystems

End of the Century pCO2 Levels Do Not Impact Calcification in Mediterranean Cold-Water Corals

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