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Increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations are causing ocean acidification (OA), altering carbonate chemistry with consequences for marine organisms. Here we show that OA increases by 46–212% the production of phenolic compounds in phytoplankton grown under the elevated CO₂ concentrations projected for the end of this century, compared with the ambient CO₂ level. At the same time, mitochondrial respiration rate is enhanced under elevated CO₂ concentrations by 130–160% in a single species or mixed phytoplankton assemblage. When fed with phytoplankton cells grown under OA, zooplankton assemblages have significantly higher phenolic compound content, by about 28–48%. The functional consequences of the increased accumulation of toxic phenolic compounds in primary and secondary producers have the potential to have profound consequences for marine ecosystem and seafood quality, with the possibility that fishery industries could be influenced as a result of progressive ocean changes.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	trophic levels, ocean acidification, phenolics
Research Division:	Environmental Sciences
Research Group:	Ecological Applications
Research Field:	Ecological Impacts of Climate Change
Objective Division:	Environment
Objective Group:	Climate and Climate Change
Objective Field:	Ecosystem Adaptation to Climate Change
Author:	Boyd, PW (Professor Philip Boyd)
ID Code:	106302
Year Published:	2015
Web of Science® Times Cited:	17
Deposited By:	IMAS Research and Education Centre
Deposited On:	2016-02-04
Last Modified:	2017-10-31
Downloads:	37 View Download Statistics