CO
 2
 leakage alters biogeochemical and ecological functions of submarine sands

Molari, Massimiliano; Guilini, Katja; Lott, Christian; Weber, Miriam; Beer, Dirk de; Meyer, Stefanie; Ramette, Alban; Wegener, Gunter; Wenzhöfer, Frank; Martín, Daniel; Cibic, Tamara; Vittor, Cinzia De; Vanreusel, Ann; Boetius, Antje

doi:10.1126/sciadv.aao2040

Cited by 35 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 140 publications

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“…The divergent responses of taxonomic groups to low pH lead to no differences in term of total meiofaunal abundance and taxa diversity. These results are in contrast with those of Molari et al (), who found a decrease in the biomass and density of meiofauna in sandy areas near CO 2 vents. Such discrepancy could be due to the different habitat characteristics (bare sandy sediment vs. P. oceanica sediments in Molari et al [] and our study site, respectively).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…In this regard, it has been reported that, around CO 2 vents of Ischia, polychaetes maintain high density along pH gradients, suggesting that some species may be tolerant to OA due to their high physiological plasticity or local adaptation (Calosi et al ). However, responses to low pH vary among different groups of polychaetes, with filter feeder and herbivore species generally favored at expenses of deposit feeders, omnivores and carnivores (Gambi et al ; Molari et al ). Thus, a more detailed analysis on polychaete species composition or functional traits could provide further insights on the sensitivity of this taxonomic group to long‐term low pH exposure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Laboratory (generally short‐term) studies have reported divergent responses to OA of different meiobenthic taxa, with the dominant one (typically nematodes and copepods) generally remaining unaffected or even increasing in abundance, whereas others, such as copepod naupli, gastrotrichs, and foraminifera, showing opposing trends (Haynert et al ; Meadows et al ; Lee et al ; Mevenkamp et al ). In contrast, long‐term exposure to low pH condition at submarine CO 2 vents led to a severe decline in meiofaunal density, suggesting limited capacities for several taxa to withstand or adapt to OA (Molari et al ). The alteration or loss of meiofaunal biodiversity could ultimately result in a significant decline of important ecosystem functions, including prokaryote production and OM mineralization (Danovaro et al ; Pusceddu et al ).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Ocean acidification alters meiobenthic assemblage composition and organic matter degradation rates in seagrass sediments

Ravaglioli

Lardicci

Pusceddu

et al. 2019

Limnology & Oceanography

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Seagrass meadows are an important organic matter (OM) reservoir but, are currently being lost due to global and regional stressors. Yet, there is limited research investigating the cumulative impacts of anthropogenic stressors on the structure and functioning of seagrass benthic assemblages, key drivers of OM mineralization and burial. Here, using a 16‐month field experiment, we assessed how meiobenthic assemblages and extracellular enzymatic activities (as a proxy of OM degradation) in Posidonia oceanica sediments responded to ocean acidification (OA) and nutrient loadings, at CO2 vents. P. oceanica meadows were exposed to three nutrient levels (control, moderate, and high) at both ambient and low pH sites. OA altered meiobenthic assemblage structure, resulting in increased abundance of annelids and crustaceans, along with a decline in foraminifera. In addition, low pH enhanced OM degradation rates in seagrass sediments by enhancing extracellular enzymatic activities, potentially decreasing the sediment carbon storage capacity of seagrasses. Nutrient enrichment had no effect on the response variables analyzed, suggesting that, under nutrient concentration unlikely to cause N or P imitation, a moderate increase of dissolved nutrients in the water column had limited influence on meiobenthic assemblages. These findings show that OA can significantly alter meiobenthic assemblage structure and enhance OM degradation rates in seagrass sediments. As meiofauna are ubiquitous key actors in the functioning of benthic ecosystems, we postulated that OA, altering the structure of meiobenthic assemblages and OM degradation, could affect organic carbon sequestration over large spatial scales.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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Ocean acidification alters meiobenthic assemblage composition and organic matter degradation rates in seagrass sediments

Ravaglioli

Lardicci

Pusceddu

et al. 2019

Limnology & Oceanography

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“…Enhanced CO2 concentrations may enhance the productivity of microalgae and cyanobacteria by alleviating the energetic requirements of their CO2 concentrating mechanisms (Beardall and Giordano, 2002). Benthic diatoms dominated the benthic community at Basiluzzo (Molari et al, 2018).…”

Section: Meadow Productivity At the Co2 Ventmentioning

confidence: 99%

The response of seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) meadow metabolism to CO2 levels and hydrodynamic exchange determined with aquatic eddy covariance

Koopmans

Holtappels

Chennu

et al. 2018

Preprint

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Abstract. We investigated light, water velocity, and CO2 as drivers of primary production in Mediterranean seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) meadows and neighboring bare sands using the aquatic eddy covariance technique. Study locations included an open-10 water meadow and a nearshore meadow, the nearshore meadow being exposed to greater hydrodynamic exchange. A third meadow was located at a CO2 vent. We found that, despite the oligotrophic environment, the meadows had a remarkably high metabolic activity, up to 20 times higher than the surrounding sands. They were strongly autotrophic, with net production half of gross primary production. Thus, P. oceanica meadows are oases of productivity in an unproductive environment. Secondly, we found that turbulent oxygen fluxes above the meadow can be significantly higher in the afternoon than in the morning at the same light 15 levels. This hysteresis can be explained by the replenishment of nighttime-depleted oxygen within the meadow during the morning.Oxygen depletion and replenishment within the meadow do not contribute to turbulent O2 flux. The hysteresis disappeared when fluxes were corrected for the O2 storage within the meadow and, consequently, accurate metabolic rate measurements require measurements of meadow oxygen content. We further argue that oxygen-depleted waters in the meadow provide a source of CO2 and inorganic nutrients for fixation, especially in the morning. Contrary to expectation, meadow metabolic activity at the CO2 vent 20 was lower than at the other sites, with negligible net primary production.

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“…The leakage of CO 2 may constitute a significant hazard, for example, by enhancing the acidification of ambient groundwater in the aquifers, and hence the migration of toxic heavy metals from aquifer sediments into groundwater (Bacon et al, ; Yang et al, ). It may also cause biogeochemical and ecological risks (Molari et al, ), and inducement of the eruptive discharge of CO 2 and brine (Jung et al, ; Pruess, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Density‐Driven Convection in a Fractured Porous Media: Implications for Geological CO₂ Storage

Kim

Han

et al. 2019

Water Resources Research

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Dissolution trapping is one of the primary mechanisms of carbon dioxide (CO2) storage in a geological formation. In this study, a numerical model was used to examine the impacts of single and multiple fractures on the transport of dissolved CO2 plumes in various geological settings. The effects of the fracture angle, fracture‐matrix permeability ratio, fracture intersection, and matrix heterogeneity on density‐driven CO2 convection were systematically investigated. The fractures were found to play time‐varying roles in both homogeneous and heterogeneous media by serving as preferential pathways for both CO2‐rich plumes (fingers) and CO2‐free water. The competition between the enhancement of convective mixing and the inhibition of finger growth by the upward flow of freshwater generated a complex flow system. The interaction between the strong upward flow of freshwater through the fractures and the falling CO2‐rich fingers through the porous matrix induced a positive feedback, resulting in accelerated domain‐scale circulation and CO2 dissolution. While the CO2‐rich fingers grew relatively evenly at the top boundary in the homogeneous media, they selectively developed through the high permeable zones in the heterogeneous media. Compared with homogeneous media, the heterogeneous media preserving fractures particularly generated a more dynamic fracture‐matrix mass transfer, resulting in more rapid CO2 dissolution. The findings of this study were extended to examine the effects of fracture connectivity on the enhancement of CO2 transport and dissolution on a field scale.

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CO ₂ leakage alters biogeochemical and ecological functions of submarine sands

Abstract: CO2 leakage alters benthic carbon cycling and leads to shifts in the food web and ecological functioning of local communities.

Cited by 35 publications

References 140 publications

Ocean acidification alters meiobenthic assemblage composition and organic matter degradation rates in seagrass sediments

Ocean acidification alters meiobenthic assemblage composition and organic matter degradation rates in seagrass sediments

The response of seagrass (<i>Posidonia oceanica</i>) meadow metabolism to CO<sub>2</sub> levels and hydrodynamic exchange determined with aquatic eddy covariance

Density‐Driven Convection in a Fractured Porous Media: Implications for Geological CO₂ Storage

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CO 2 leakage alters biogeochemical and ecological functions of submarine sands

Abstract: CO2 leakage alters benthic carbon cycling and leads to shifts in the food web and ecological functioning of local communities.

Cited by 35 publications

References 140 publications

Ocean acidification alters meiobenthic assemblage composition and organic matter degradation rates in seagrass sediments

Ocean acidification alters meiobenthic assemblage composition and organic matter degradation rates in seagrass sediments

The response of seagrass (&lt;i&gt;Posidonia oceanica&lt;/i&gt;) meadow metabolism to CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; levels and hydrodynamic exchange determined with aquatic eddy covariance

Density‐Driven Convection in a Fractured Porous Media: Implications for Geological CO2 Storage

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CO ₂ leakage alters biogeochemical and ecological functions of submarine sands

The response of seagrass (<i>Posidonia oceanica</i>) meadow metabolism to CO<sub>2</sub> levels and hydrodynamic exchange determined with aquatic eddy covariance

Density‐Driven Convection in a Fractured Porous Media: Implications for Geological CO₂ Storage