This project combines recent carbonate system observations, long-term water quality data and an existing high-resolution 3D model to develop forecasts and metrics tailored to support decision-making needs of commercial shellfish hatchery and nursery operators.
The first study on Florida stone crabs and ocean acidification was published this month by a Mote Marine Laboratory scientist and offers clues for relieving environmental stress on these tasty and economically valuable crabs.
Stone Crab Fishery Could be Challenged by Ocean Acidification, Study Suggest Read More »
Corals grow their skeletons upward toward sunlight, thickening and reinforcing them. The new research, led by National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), shows that ocean acidification impedes the thickening process — decreasing the skeletons' density and leaving them more vulnerable to breaking. The results were published this week in the journal [EasyDNNnewsLink|90].
Scientists pinpoint how ocean acidification weakens coral skeletons Read More »
Scientists and NOAA Hollings scholars at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) are studying how Atlantic silverside, one of the most common fishes on the Atlantic Coast and an important diet component of many larger fishes of this region, are impacted by changes in ocean acidification (increased CO2, lower pH), increased temperature, and lower dissolved oxygen projected to occur in the future. The team is exposing silverside embryos and larvae to these three stressors and monitoring effects on survival, hatching time, and size of the fish larvae at hatching and later in life. In addition, they are mimicking day-night cycles in CO2 by oscillating the CO2 levels every 12 hours and assessing how the magnitude of these fluctuations impact young silverside. This will help scientists better predict how future ocean conditions could alter this important food source.
Pictures: 1. 2017 Hollings Scholar Amy Zyck monitoring young Atlantic silverside in the CO2 and dissolved oxygen experiment at the NOAA Sandy Hook Laboratory.
Researching the Impact of Ocean Acidification on Atlantic Silversides Read More »
Florida State University News For thousands of years, California mussel shells have shared a relatively uniform mineralogical makeup — long, cylindrical calcite crystals ordered in neat vertical rows with crisp, geometric regularity. But in a study published this week in the journal [EasyDNNnewsLink|82], McCoy and her team suggest that escalating rates of ocean acidification are shaking up that
Ocean Acidification means major changes for California mussels Read More »
This project synthesizes past data to assess sources of ocean and coastal acidification in the Gulf of Maine, and vulnerabilities of shellfish industry.
sources and vulnerabilities of the Gulf of Maine Read More »
HeraldNet Shallin Busch is a Mukilteo-based ecologist whose research is linking ocean acidification to the deteriorating health of the Puget Sound ecosystem. The Mukilteo team has looked at or is looking at ocean acidification effects on krill, salmon, Dungeness crab, black cod and pteropod (marine snails). So far it has found that lower pH levels lead
Mukilteo scientist tries to discover why C02 is hurting oceans Read More »
OA-ICC The effects of ocean acidification on marine life have only become widely recognized in the past decade. Now researchers are rapidly expanding the scope of investigations into what falling pH means for ocean ecosystems.
What scientists are learning about the impact of an acidifying ocean Read More »
NPR At a time when the Great Barrier Reef and other coral reefs are facing unprecedented destruction, researchers in Australia have found a small ray of hope for the fish that make the reefs their home.Fish are more resilient to the effects of ocean acidification than scientists had previously thought, according to research published Thursday in
Coral Reef Fish Are More Resilient Than We Thought, Study Finds Read More »
The Ocean Tipping Points Project, an interdisciplinary research collaboration among academic, non-governmental and governmental partners, is excited to offer a unique 3-day workshop for scientists and practitioners of marine ecosystem management. Receive hands-on training in cutting-edge scientific and management strategies to better understand and cope with the potential for dramatic change in the ocean or coastal ecosystem where you work. With generous support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, we are offering an all-expenses paid 3-day training in Santa Barbara, CA, November 1-3, 2017.
Understanding seasonal changes in ocean acidification in Alaskan waters and the potential impacts to the multi-billion-dollar fishery sector is a main priority. Through work funded by NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program, the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory developed a model capable of depicting past ocean chemistry conditions for the Bering Sea and is now testing the ability of this model to forecast future conditions. This model is being used to develop an ocean acidification indicator provided to fisheries managers in the annual NOAA Eastern Bering Sea Ecosystem Status Report.
The NOAA Ocean Acidification Program (OAP) works to prepare society to adapt to the consequences of ocean acidification and conserve marine ecosystems as acidification occurs. Learn more about the human connections and adaptation strategies from these efforts.
Adaptation approaches fostered by the OAP include:
Using models and research to understand the sensitivity of organisms and ecosystems to ocean acidification to make predictions about the future, allowing communities and industries to prepare
Using these models and predictions as tools to facilitate management strategies that will protect marine resources and communities from future changes
Developing innovative tools to help monitor ocean acidification and mitigate changing ocean chemistry locally
Drive fuel-efficient vehicles or choose public transportation. Choose your bike or walk! Don't sit idle for more than 30 seconds. Keep your tires properly inflated.
Eat local- this helps cut down on production and transport! Reduce your meat and dairy. Compost to avoid food waste ending up in the landfill
Make energy-efficient choices for your appliances and lighting. Heat and cool efficiently! Change your air filters and program your thermostat, seal and insulate your home, and support clean energy sources
Reduce your use of fertilizers, Improve sewage treatment and run off, and Protect and restore coastal habitats
You've taken the first step to learn more about ocean acidification - why not spread this knowledge to your community?
Every community has their unique culture, economy and ecology and what’s at stake from ocean acidification may be different depending on where you live. As a community member, you can take a larger role in educating the public about ocean acidification. Creating awareness is the first step to taking action. As communities gain traction, neighboring regions that share marine resources can build larger coalitions to address ocean acidification. Here are some ideas to get started:
