Pteropods as Indicators of Global Change: From Research to Education

SOARCE Webinar

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Pteropods as Indicators of Global Change: From Research to Education

The shelled pteropods in the genus Limacina have been identified as an indicator species for monitoring the advancement of ocean acidification throughout the world’s oceans. This is primarily due to the sensitive nature of pteropod shells to changes in the pH of the ocean. In this presentation we will focus on pteropods in the Southern Ocean and use scanning electron micrographs to discuss the effects ocean acidification has on pteropod shells. We will cover information we have learned from laboratory experiments and field collections in both the Southern Ocean and the California Current Ecosystem to inspire use of this indicator organism in educational settings.

About Kevin Johnson: Kevin Johnson is a PhD. Candidate studying under Prof. Gretchen Hofmann at the University of California, Santa Barbara in the department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology. Kevin’s work focuses on the effects of ocean acidification and ocean warming on two closely related pteropods: Limacina helicina antarctica and Limacina helicina helicina. The majority of this work has focused on characterizing the molecular response of Limacina spp. to the effects of acidification and warming, and documenting pteropod shell dissolution levels in nature.

Categories: ocean acidification | education & outreach | SOARCE Archive | Webinars | Tags:

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