Effect of climate change on crustose coralline algae at a temperate vent site, White Island, New Zealand

2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 360 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. Brinkman ◽  
A. M. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Coralline Algae ◽  
Crustose Coralline Algae ◽  
Climate Change Research ◽  
Seasonal Basis ◽  
Additional Monitoring ◽  
White Island

Natural CO2 vents allow study of the effects of climate change on marine organisms on a different scale from laboratory-based studies. This study outlines a preliminary investigation into the suitability of natural CO2 vents near White Island, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand (37°31.19′S, 117°10.85′E) for climate change research by characterising water chemistry from two vent and three control locations on a seasonal basis, as well as examining their effects on skeletons of the local calcifying crustose coralline algae. pH measurements at vent sites, calculated from dissolved inorganic carbon and alkalinity, showed reduced mean pH levels (7.49 and 7.85) relative to background levels of 8.06, whereas mean temperatures were between 0.0 and 0.4°C above control. Increases in sulfur and mercury at sites near White Island were probably a result of volcanic unrest. Crustose coralline algae did not show significant variability in skeletal Mg-calcite geochemistry, but qualitative comparisons of calcite skeletons under scanning electron microscopy saw greater deformation and dissolution in coralline algae calcite crystals from vent sites compared to controls. Although additional monitoring of pH fluctuations and hydrogen sulphides is still needed, the low pH and increased temperatures indicate potential for studying multistressor effects of projected climate changes in a natural environment.

scholarly journals Decision-making through the grapevine: Winegrowers' perceptions on climate change and the barriers to adaptation planning in New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Alyssa Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Climate Science ◽  
Wine Industry ◽  
Adaptation Planning ◽  
Climate Projections ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Wine Production ◽  
Climate Change Research

<p>New Zealand wine is cultivated in cool climates that produce distinctive flavours and wine-styles, which are representative of the terroir of the region. The effects of climate change can impact the quality and quantity of winegrapes, and the production of premium wine. The aim of this research was to investigate adaptation planning in the New Zealand wine industry by evaluating winegrowers’ decision-making and perceptions of climate change. Research was conducted using primary survey data from New Zealand winegrowers and semi-structured interviews with winegrowers from three case study regions of Marlborough, Central Otago, and Hawke’s Bay. The study was designed to assess how climate change is understood throughout the industry, whether adaptation plans are being developed or employed and the barriers hindering winegrowers’ implementation of adaptation strategies. The results show that winegrowers are somewhat informed about climate change with some adaptation planning occurring. However, the majority of winegrowers have no plans to adapt to climate change. The uncertainty in the climate science and the availability of information were indicated as a barrier to adaptation planning. Winegrowers convey the need for regional information with a focus on reliable forecasting and climate projections for the next few years. The New Zealand wine industry is in a positive position to undertake adaptation with the opportunity to exploit the benefits of climate change for wine production.</p>

scholarly journals “Coral Dominance”: A Dangerous Ecosystem Misnomer?

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter S. Vroom
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Calcium Carbonate ◽  
Global Climate Change ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Coralline Algae ◽  
Crustose Coralline Algae ◽  
Reef Management ◽  
Reef Accretion ◽  
Tropical Reef

Over 100 years ago, before threats such as global climate change and ocean acidification were issues engrossing marine scientists, numerous tropical reef biologists began expressing concern that too much emphasis was being placed on coral dominance in reef systems. These researchers believed that the scientific community was beginning to lose sight of the overall mix of calcifying organisms necessary for the healthy function of reef ecosystems and demonstrated that some reefs were naturally coral dominated with corals being the main organisms responsible for reef accretion, yet other healthy reef ecosystems were found to rely almost entirely on calcified algae and foraminifera for calcium carbonate accumulation. Despite these historical cautionary messages, many agencies today have inherited a coral-centric approach to reef management, likely to the detriment of reef ecosystems worldwide. For example, recent research has shown that crustose coralline algae, a group of plants essential for building and cementing reef systems, are in greater danger of exhibiting decreased calcification rates and increased solubility than corals in warmer and more acidic ocean environments. A shift from coral-centric views to broader ecosystem views is imperative in order to protect endangered reef systems worldwide.

scholarly journals An Experimental Approach to Assessing the Roles of Magnesium, Calcium, and Carbonate Ratios in Marine Carbonates

Oceans ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 193-214
Author(s):  
Claire E. Reymond ◽  
Sönke Hohn
Keyword(s):  
Dissolved Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Coralline Algae ◽  
Crustose Coralline Algae ◽  
Saturation State ◽  
Process Understanding ◽  
Magnesium Removal ◽  
Ionic Movement ◽  
Inorganic Carbon Concentration ◽  
Lower Saturation

Marine biomineralization is a globally important biological and geochemical process. Understanding the mechanisms controlling the precipitation of calcium carbonate [CaCO3] within the calcifying fluid of marine organisms, such as corals, crustose coralline algae, and foraminifera, presents one of the most elusive, yet relevant areas of biomineralization research, due to the often-impenetrable ability to measure the process in situ. The precipitation of CaCO3 is assumed to be largely controlled by the saturation state [Ω] of the extracellular calcifying fluid. In this study, we mimicked the typical pH and Ω known for the calcifying fluid in corals, while varying the magnesium, calcium, and carbonate concentrations in six chemo-static growth experiments, thereby mimicking various dissolved inorganic carbon concentration mechanisms and ionic movement into the extracellular calcifying fluid. Reduced mineralization and varied CaCO3 morphologies highlight the inhibiting effect of magnesium regardless of pH and Ω and suggests the importance of strong magnesium removal or calcium concentration mechanisms. In respect to ocean acidification studies, this could allow an explanation for why specific marine calcifiers respond differently to lower saturation states.

scholarly journals Decision-making through the grapevine: Winegrowers' perceptions on climate change and the barriers to adaptation planning in New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Alyssa Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Climate Science ◽  
Wine Industry ◽  
Adaptation Planning ◽  
Climate Projections ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Wine Production ◽  
Climate Change Research

<p>New Zealand wine is cultivated in cool climates that produce distinctive flavours and wine-styles, which are representative of the terroir of the region. The effects of climate change can impact the quality and quantity of winegrapes, and the production of premium wine. The aim of this research was to investigate adaptation planning in the New Zealand wine industry by evaluating winegrowers’ decision-making and perceptions of climate change. Research was conducted using primary survey data from New Zealand winegrowers and semi-structured interviews with winegrowers from three case study regions of Marlborough, Central Otago, and Hawke’s Bay. The study was designed to assess how climate change is understood throughout the industry, whether adaptation plans are being developed or employed and the barriers hindering winegrowers’ implementation of adaptation strategies. The results show that winegrowers are somewhat informed about climate change with some adaptation planning occurring. However, the majority of winegrowers have no plans to adapt to climate change. The uncertainty in the climate science and the availability of information were indicated as a barrier to adaptation planning. Winegrowers convey the need for regional information with a focus on reliable forecasting and climate projections for the next few years. The New Zealand wine industry is in a positive position to undertake adaptation with the opportunity to exploit the benefits of climate change for wine production.</p>

scholarly journals Ocean warming and acidification have complex interactive effects on the dynamics of a marine fungal disease

2014 ◽  
Vol 281 (1778) ◽  
pp. 20133069 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gareth J. Williams ◽  
Nichole N. Price ◽  
Blake Ushijima ◽  
Greta S. Aeby ◽  
Sean Callahan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Fungal Disease ◽  
Ocean Warming ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Coralline Algae ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Disease Dynamics ◽  
Crustose Coralline Algae

Diseases threaten the structure and function of marine ecosystems and are contributing to the global decline of coral reefs. We currently lack an understanding of how climate change stressors, such as ocean acidification (OA) and warming, may simultaneously affect coral reef disease dynamics, particularly diseases threatening key reef-building organisms, for example crustose coralline algae (CCA). Here, we use coralline fungal disease (CFD), a previously described CCA disease from the Pacific, to examine these simultaneous effects using both field observations and experimental manipulations. We identify the associated fungus as belonging to the subphylum Ustilaginomycetes and show linear lesion expansion rates on individual hosts can reach 6.5 mm per day. Further, we demonstrate for the first time, to our knowledge, that ocean-warming events could increase the frequency of CFD outbreaks on coral reefs, but that OA-induced lowering of pH may ameliorate outbreaks by slowing lesion expansion rates on individual hosts. Lowered pH may still reduce overall host survivorship, however, by reducing calcification and facilitating fungal bio-erosion. Such complex, interactive effects between simultaneous extrinsic environmental stressors on disease dynamics are important to consider if we are to accurately predict the response of coral reef communities to future climate change.

scholarly journals Ocean acidification induces carry-over effects on the larval settlement of the New Zealand abalone, Haliotis iris

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadjejda Espinel-Velasco ◽  
Miles Lamare ◽  
Anna Kluibenschedl ◽  
Graeme Moss ◽  
Vonda Cummings
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Ocean Acidification ◽  
Larval Settlement ◽  
Marine Organisms ◽  
Coralline Algae ◽  
Crustose Coralline Algae ◽  
Important Species ◽  
Seawater Ph ◽  
Settlement Success ◽  
Carry Over

Abstract Larval settlement is a key process in the lifecycle of benthic marine organisms; however, little is known on how it could change in reduced seawater pH and carbonate saturation states under future ocean acidification (OA). This is important, as settlement ensures species occur in optimal environments and, for commercially important species such as abalone, reduced settlement could decrease future population success. We investigated how OA could affect settlement success in the New Zealand abalone Haliotis iris by examining: (1) direct effects of seawater at ambient (pHT 8.05) and reduced pHT (7.65) at the time of settlement, (2) indirect effects of settlement substrates (crustose coralline algae, CCA) preconditioned at ambient and reduced pHT for 171 days, and (3) carry-over effects, by examining settlement in larvae reared to competency at ambient and reduced pHT (7.80). We found no effects of seawater pH or CCA incubation on larval settlement success. OA-induced carry-over effects were evident, with lower settlement in larvae reared at reduced pH. Understanding the mechanisms behind these responses is key to fully comprehend the extent to which OA will affect marine organisms and the industries that rely on them.

scholarly journals A cross-ocean comparison of responses to settlement cues in reef-building corals

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah W Davies ◽  
Eli Meyer ◽  
Sarah M Guermond ◽  
Mikhail V Matz
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Coral Species ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Coralline Algae ◽  
Crustose Coralline Algae ◽  
Coral Recruitment ◽  
Coral Larvae ◽  
Settlement Cues ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Caribbean Coral

Caribbean coral reefs have deteriorated substantially over the past 30 years, which is broadly attributable to the effects of global climate change. In the same time, Indo-Pacific reefs maintain higher coral cover and typically recover rapidly after disturbances. This difference in reef resilience is largely due to much higher coral recruitment rates in the Pacific. We hypothesized that the lack of Caribbean coral recruitment might be explained by diminishing quality of settlement cues and/or impaired sensitivity of Caribbean coral larvae to those cues, relative to the Pacific. To evaluate this hypothesis, we assembled a collection of bulk samples of reef encrusting communities, mostly consisting of crustose coralline algae (CCA), from various reefs around the world and tested them as settlement cues for several coral species originating from different ocean provinces. Cue samples were meta-barcoded to evaluate their taxonomic diversity. We observed no systematic differences either in cue potency or in strength of larval responses depending on the ocean province, and no preference of coral larvae towards cues from the same ocean. Instead, we detected significant differences in cue preferences among coral species, even for corals originating from the same reef. We conclude that the region-wide disruption of the settlement process is unlikely to be the major cause of Caribbean reef loss. However, due to their high sensitivity to the effects of climate change, shifts in the composition of CCA-associated communities, combined with pronounced differences in cue preferences among coral species, could substantially influence future coral community structure.

Preliminary studies on the batch-dissolution kinetics of calcite with reactors open and closed to CO2

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 101
Author(s):  
Victor W. Truesdale ◽  
Jim Greenwood
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Rate Equation ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Dissolution Kinetics ◽  
Mineral Dissolution ◽  
Calcite Dissolution ◽  
Global Issues ◽  
Environmental Consequences ◽  
Reliable Solution

Environmental contextThe dissolution of minerals in fresh or sea-waters is a critical environmental process. The rate at which substances dissolve, from the dissolution of calcite crystals to the weathering of mountains, can influence major global issues such as climate change and sea-level rise. This paper explores a new solution-based rate equation for mineral dissolution that has profound environmental consequences. AbstractThis paper continues the search for a reliable, solution-based, rate equation for mineral dissolution, as the one dominant for over 40 years has recently been challenged by the Shrinking Object (SO) model. This study is needed to remedy several major environmental problems of immense social and economic importance including climate change, ocean acidification and industrial waste disposal. This paper describes the preliminary investigation of how reactors open and closed to CO2, which are used to study calcite dissolution, ought to be used with the SO model to gain maximum advantage. The open reactor is re-conceptualised as a constant head device for dissolved inorganic carbon, to give the kineticist a mechanistic description of it, to flesh out the thermodynamic categorisation. Application of this reveals that the recent experiments conducted in a reactor blown with CO2-free N2, which were central to the establishment of the concept of non-ideal dissolution of calcite, would have exaggerated the effect. Although this current study was still unable to determine conditions where the effect was absent, it does seem that it will be possible to skirt around this in the future, by approximating the classic works on the variation with pH of the initial rate of dissolution to full reaction curves from the SO model, which are exponential. To guide workers towards a further round of laboratory investigation on this, practical work on the dissolution of calcite crystallites in 0.311M Tris buffer at pH 8 or 9, under various partial pressures of CO2, in different reactors, and under various stirring and filtration strategies, is presented. Improved data runs, with unparalleled, strategically-spaced samplings, which show up the finer details of dissolution, can now be anticipated.

scholarly journals Exploring Comparative Advantage in the Context of Climate Change with Māori Organizations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Elizabeth Ashley Beall
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Comparative Advantage ◽  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems ◽  
Climate Change Research ◽  
Action Research Approach

<p>Purpose –The purpose of this research is to investigate perceptions of comparative advantage in the context of climate change with Māori organizations in New Zealand. This study seeks insights, from an alternate paradigm into how concepts within strategy, such as values and identity, can help to achieve comparative advantage in an increasingly carbon constrained world. Design/methodology/approach – Peter Checkland’s Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) has been employed as a framework for exploring Māori perceptions of achieving comparative advantage in the context of climate change in order to identify areas of transformation and define actions. A total of 10 organizations active in land-based sectors in New Zealand participated in this research study. Findings – The key area of action, or transformation, identified through the research process was for Māori organizations, and New Zealand more broadly, to be aware of the potential comparative advantage that Māori organizations have in the context of climate change. Research limitations/implications – While Soft Systems Methodology and Kaupapa Māori principles were applied to this research, a full participatory action research approach was not possible due to time and resource constraints. The participatory nature of the research could be expanded by narrowing the scope to one organization in order to see the methodology through to implementing actions. Originality/value – This research highlights the importance of perceptions in achieving action on climate change, by understanding where organizations may have a particular comparative advantage given their unique values and identity. It has value within the New Zealand economy, and potentially for businesses struggling with how to incorporate climate change into their business strategy globally.</p>

scholarly journals A unique temperate rocky coastal hydrothermal vent system (Whakaari–White Island, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand): constraints for ocean acidification studies

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 321 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Zitoun ◽  
S. D. Connell ◽  
C. E. Cornwall ◽  
K. I. Currie ◽  
K. Fabricius ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Ocean Acidification ◽  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Seawater Ph ◽  
Combination Of Methods ◽  
And Control ◽  
Inorganic Ligands ◽  
White Island

In situ effects of ocean acidification are increasingly studied at submarine CO2 vents. Here we present a preliminary investigation into the water chemistry and biology of cool temperate CO2 vents near Whakaari–White Island, New Zealand. Water samples were collected inside three vent shafts, within vents at a distance of 2m from the shaft and at control sites. Vent samples contained both seawater pH on the total scale (pHT) and carbonate saturation states that were severely reduced, creating conditions as predicted for beyond the year 2100. Vent samples showed lower salinities, higher temperatures and greater nutrient concentrations. Sulfide levels were elevated and mercury levels were at concentrations considered toxic at all vent and control sites, but stable organic and inorganic ligands were present, as deduced from Cu speciation data, potentially mediating harmful effects on local organisms. The biological investigations focused on phytoplankton, zooplankton and macroalgae. Interestingly, we found lower abundances but higher diversity of phytoplankton and zooplankton at sites in the direct vicinity of Whakaari. Follow-up studies will need a combination of methods and approaches to attribute observations to specific drivers. The Whakaari vents represent a unique ecosystem with considerable biogeochemical complexity, which, like many other vent systems globally, require care in their use as a model of ‘future oceans’.

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