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Beneficial effects of CO₂ on photosynthetic organisms will be a key driver of ecosystem change under ocean acidification. Predicting the responses of macroalgal species to ocean acidification is complex, but we demonstrate that the response of assemblages to elevated CO₂ are correlated with inorganic carbon physiology. We assessed abundance patterns and a proxy for CO₂:HCO₃⁻ use (δ¹³C values) of macroalgae along a gradient of CO₂ at a volcanic seep, and examined how shifts in species abundance at other Mediterranean seeps are related to macroalgal inorganic carbon physiology. Five macroalgal species capable of using both HCO₃⁻ and CO₂ had greater CO₂ use as concentrations increased. These species (and one unable to use HCO₃⁻) increased in abundance with elevated CO₂ whereas obligate calcifying species, and non-calcareous macroalgae whose CO₂ use did not increase consistently with concentration, declined in abundance. Physiological groupings provide a mechanistic understanding that will aid us in determining which species will benefit from ocean acidification and why.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	Seaweed, climate change, ocean acidification, carbon physiology
Research Division:	Biological Sciences
Research Group:	Plant biology
Research Field:	Phycology (incl. marine grasses)
Objective Division:	Environmental Policy, Climate Change and Natural Hazards
Objective Group:	Adaptation to climate change
Objective Field:	Ecosystem adaptation to climate change
UTAS Author:	Cornwall, CE (Dr Chris Cornwall)
UTAS Author:	Hurd, CL (Professor Catriona Hurd)
ID Code:	116083
Year Published:	2017
Web of Science® Times Cited:	64
Deposited By:	Ecology and Biodiversity
Deposited On:	2017-05-01
Last Modified:	2018-04-24
Downloads:	105 View Download Statistics