Hidden impacts of ocean acidification to live and dead coral framework

Cold-water corals, such as Lophelia pertusa, are key habitat-forming organisms found throughout the world's oceans to 3000 m deep. The complex three-dimensional framework made by these vulnerable marine ecosystems support high biodiversity and commercially important species. Given their importance, a key question is how both the living and the dead framework will fare under projected climate change. Here, we demonstrate that over 12 months L. pertusa can physiologically acclimate to increased CO2, showing sustained net calcification. However, their new skeletal structure changes and exhibits decreased crystallographic and molecular-scale bonding organization. Although physiological acclimatization was evident, we also demonstrate that there is a negative correlation between increasing CO2 levels and breaking strength of exposed framework (approx. 20-30% weaker after 12 months), meaning the exposed bases of reefs will be less effective 'load-bearers', and will become more susceptible to bioerosion and mechanical damage by 2100.

Data compilation on the biological response to ocean acidification: environmental and experimental context of data sets and related literature

The exponential growth of studies on the biological response to ocean acidification over the last few decades has generated a large amount of data. To facilitate data comparison, a data compilation hosted at the data publisher PANGAEA was initiated in 2008 and is updated on a regular basis (doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.149999). By January 2015, a total of 581 data sets (over 4 000 000 data points) from 539 papers had been archived. Here we present the developments of this data compilation five years since its first description by Nisumaa et al. (2010). Most of study sites from which data archived are still in the Northern Hemisphere and the number of archived data from studies from the Southern Hemisphere and polar oceans are still relatively low. Data from 60 studies that investigated the response of a mix of organisms or natural communities were all added after 2010, indicating a welcomed shift from the study of individual organisms to communities and ecosystems. The initial imbalance of considerably more data archived on calcification and primary production than on other processes has improved. There is also a clear tendency towards more data archived from multifactorial studies after 2010. For easier and more effective access to ocean acidification data, the ocean acidification community is strongly encouraged to contribute to the data archiving effort, and help develop standard vocabularies describing the variables and define best practices for archiving ocean acidification data.

Algal Calcification and Silicification

The algae represent major producers of calcium carbonate and silica among the world's biota. Calcification involves the precipitation of CaCO3 from Ca2+ and CO32− ions. Algal calcification by coccolithophores may account for up to half of global oceanic CaCO3 production. Silicification, the transformation of silicic acid into skeletal material, occurs in a few algal groups. The abundant diatoms represent the major silicifiers, playing a key role in marine silica cycling. Fossilised diatomaceous deposits have long been exploited for building and filling materials. Biomineralisation of calcium and silicon require homeostatic ion controls that are well characterised for Ca2+ and H+ in coccolithophores. Calcification occurs in an alkalinised vesicle, while silicification requires an acidic pH. Research on silicification remains focused upon cell wall development. Initiation and development of structures that are mineralised intracellularly requires initiation and regulation by organic components within the vesicles. Low-temperature, low-pressure biogenic formation of silica and calcite has potential for biotechnological application in novel industrial processes.

Algal Calcification and Silicification

The algae represent major producers of calcium carbonate and silica among the world's biota. Calcification involves the precipitation of CaCO3 from Ca2+ and CO32− ions. Algal calcification by coccolithophores may account for up to half of global oceanic CaCO3 production. Silicification, the transformation of silicic acid into skeletal material, occurs in a few algal groups. The abundant diatoms represent the major silicifiers, playing a key role in marine silica cycling. Fossilised diatomaceous deposits have long been exploited for building and filling materials. Biomineralisation of calcium and silicon require homeostatic ion controls that are well characterised for Ca2+ and H+ in coccolithophores. Calcification occurs in an alkalinised vesicle, while silicification requires an acidic pH. Research on silicification remains focused upon cell wall development. Initiation and development of structures that are mineralised intracellularly requires initiation and regulation by organic components within the vesicles. Low-temperature, low-pressure biogenic formation of silica and calcite has potential for biotechnological application in novel industrial processes.