Biological Response

Biodiversity of coral reef cryptobiota shuffles but does not decline under the combined stressors of ocean warming and acidification

Although climate change is expected to decimate coral reefs, the combined impacts of ocean-warming and acidification on coral reef biodiversity remains largely unmeasured. Here, we present a two-year mesocosm experiment to simulate future ocean acidification and ocean-warming to quantify the impacts on species richness, community composition, and community structure. We find that species richness is

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The Northeast Coastal Acidification Network: A Force for Ocean Acidification Coordination

“We need to do this in the Northeast!”
Dwight Gledhill, Deputy Director of NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program, and Ru Morrison, Executive Director of Northeastern Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems (NERACOOS), exclaimed after listening to a presentation on the newly formed California Current Acidification Network. Seeing how the West Coast was creating a collaboration of scientists, industry members, and managers on the West Coast inspired them to start a similar effort on the other side of the country in the Northeast US.

The Northeast Coastal Acidification Network: A Force for Ocean Acidification Coordination Read More »

Addressing Ocean Acidification in a Vulnerable Region: The Alaska Ocean Acidification Network

Ocean acidification is a global issue, driven by absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and it holds particular interest and concern for Alaskans. A primary reason is that Alaska water is cold, and cold water can hold more gas – just like a cold soda stays more fizzy than a warm one. This makes Alaska’s waters naturally more rich in carbon dioxide and thereby higher in acidity, placing it closer to the threshold that could be harmful to marine organisms. Since Alaska is home to a $6 billion dollar seafood industry and many communities that rely heavily on subsistence fishing, the stakes are high.

Addressing Ocean Acidification in a Vulnerable Region: The Alaska Ocean Acidification Network Read More »

Environmentally-determined production frontiers and lease utilization in Virginia’s eastern oyster aquaculture industry

During the last decade, oyster aquaculture has rebounded in Virginia and has been associated with an increase in subaqueous leased area. Production levels remain historically low, however, and many leases are thought to be underutilized. This study uses a novel approach leveraging high-resolution environmental data to evaluate lease utilization and identify constraints on aquaculture development.

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Understanding the vulnerability of shellfish hatcheries in the Chesapeake Bay to acidification

Acidification in brackish estuarine environments, such as the Chesapeake Bay, is intensified by coastal inputs such as runoff, atmospheric pollution and freshwater sources. The Chesapeake Bay is home to commercial shellfish hatcheries that supply seed that is sold to and planted in hundreds of shellfish farms within the Chesapeake. A great deal of research has been dedicated to understanding the impact of acidification on shellfish, and has shown even greater impacts to shellfish growth and survival in lower salinity and nutrient-rich environments. The shellfish industry relies on consistent hatchery production to sustain and expand operations that could greatly benefit from regional OA forecasts and metrics. This project will synthesize recent CO2 system observations with long-term water quality parameters and combine observations an existing baywide, high-resolution 3D model. The proposed research will develop forecasts of acidification and develop acidification metrics tailored to support decision-making needs of commercial shellfish hatchery and nursery operators.

Understanding the vulnerability of shellfish hatcheries in the Chesapeake Bay to acidification Read More »

Oceanographer

The Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR) is currently recruiting an Oceanographer within the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division based in Honolulu, Hawaii.  As a part of a team of researchers in the Ecosystem Sciences Division, the Oceanographer will assess ecological impacts to the coral reef ecosystems in the U.S. Pacific Islands (Hawaii Archipelago, Marianas Archipelago, American Samoa, and the Pacific Remote Islands Areas) from multiple environmental drivers with a focus on local warming and changes in the coastal carbonate system. 
 Apply by May 24, 2019!
A full position description and more information about applying to this position can be found by navigating to www.rcuh.com and clicking on “Job Postings” and Project Name “JIMAR” (position 19214).
 

CLOSING DATE: May 24, 2019
 
A full position description and more information about applying to this position can be found by navigating to www.rcuh.com and clicking on “Job Postings” and Project Name “JIMAR” (position 19214).

Oceanographer Read More »

Undergraduate Research Internship Opportunities

Two ocean acidification-related undergraduate research internship opportunities are avaiable this summer at Mook Sea Farm in Walpole, ME supported by SEANET.  These opportunities are open to undergraduate students from or attending university in Maine.
The Aquaculture in changing waters: Impacts of ocean acidification on juvenile oysters opportunity is directly related to ocean acidification and the aquaculture industry.  The second internship, Environmental influence on larval bivalve settlement success, will consider the effects of several environmental variables, including pCO2, pH, and saturation state, on larval bivalve settlement in a field study.
Applications will be reviewed beginning February 18. 2019. Please direct questions to me, Meredith White, meredith.megan.white@gmail.com.

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Ocean acidification may reduce sea scallop fisheries

A new model created by scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution projects – under a worst- case scenario – that warming and increasingly acidic waters could reduce the sea scallop population by more than 50% in the next 30 to 80 years. The bright spot? Fisheries management and efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, might slow or even stop that trend for this $500 million fishery.

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