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The response of Antarctic sea ice algae to changes in pH and CO2
Citation
McMinn, A and Muller, MN and Martin, A and Ryan, KG, The response of Antarctic sea ice algae to changes in pH and CO2, PLoS ONE, 9, (1) Article e86984. ISSN 1932-6203 (2014) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Licenced under Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Generic (CC BY 2.5) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/
Official URL: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.137...
DOI: doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0086984
Abstract
Ocean acidification substantially alters ocean carbon chemistry and hence pH but the effects on sea ice formation and the
CO2 concentration in the enclosed brine channels are unknown. Microbial communities inhabiting sea ice ecosystems
currently contribute 1050% of the annual primary production of polar seas, supporting overwintering zooplankton species,
especially Antarctic krill, and seeding spring phytoplankton blooms. Ocean acidification is occurring in all surface waters but
the strongest effects will be experienced in polar ecosystems with significant effects on all trophic levels. Brine algae
collected from McMurdo Sound (Antarctica) sea ice was incubated in situ under various carbonate chemistry conditions. The
carbon chemistry was manipulated with acid, bicarbonate and bases to produce a pCO2 and pH range from 238 to
6066 μatm and 7.19 to 8.66, respectively. Elevated pCO2 positively affected the growth rate of the brine algal community,
dominated by the unique ice dinoflagellate, Polarella glacialis. Growth rates were significantly reduced when pH dropped
below 7.6. However, when the pH was held constant and the pCO2 increased, growth rates of the brine algae increased by
more than 20% and showed no decline at pCO2 values more than five times current ambient levels. We suggest that
projected increases in seawater pCO2, associated with OA, will not adversely impact brine algal communities.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | ocean acidification, sea ice, Antarctica |
| Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
| Research Group: | Ecology |
| Research Field: | Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) |
| Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
| Objective Group: | Management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments |
| Objective Field: | Biodiversity in Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments |
| UTAS Author: | McMinn, A (Professor Andrew McMinn) |
| UTAS Author: | Muller, MN (Dr Marius Muller) |
| UTAS Author: | Martin, A (Dr Andrew Martin) |
| ID Code: | 88927 |
| Year Published: | 2014 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 48 |
| Deposited By: | IMAS Research and Education Centre |
| Deposited On: | 2014-02-20 |
| Last Modified: | 2017-11-03 |
| Downloads: | 315 View Download Statistics |
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