The effects of ocean acidification and rising sea surface temperatures on shallow-water benthic organisms in Antarctica

这项研究将调查海洋酸化和海洋表面温度上升对西南极半岛(WAP)海洋生物群落中浅水钙化底栖生物的单独和联合影响。据预测，南大洋的文石和方解石将分别在50年和100年内变得不饱和，这对钙化过程构成了挑战。雪上加霜的是，南极钙化的海底海洋生物比温带和热带物种更容易受到海洋酸化的影响，因为它们通常钙化程度较弱。许多南极生物本质上是地热的，而那些在南极半岛西部的生物正受到海水温度上升的影响。该项目采用单物种和多物种水平的方法，评估海洋酸化和海水温度上升对典型钙化和非钙化大型藻类、钙化和非钙化中游动物以及钙化大型放牧动物的影响，所有这些都是丰富底栖生物群落中的重要生态角色。多物种分析将重点放在与优势大型藻类相关的角足类和中腹足类的不同组合上，这些大型藻类共同在WAP沿线的群落动态中发挥关键作用。该项目将通过NSF项目和国内大学项目支持本科生研究，其中一些项目旨在提高少数族裔在科学界的代表性。首席调查员还将通过指导研究生来支持和促进研究生教育。通过他们在南极洲非常成功的UAB互动网络计划，他们将继续让大量教师、K-12学生和其他社区成员参与他们在南极洲的科学努力。

The research will investigate the individual and combined effects of rising ocean acidification and sea surface temperatures on shallow-water calcified benthic organisms in western Antarctic Peninsular (WAP) marine communities. The Southern Ocean is predicted to become undersaturated in terms of both aragonite and calcite within 50 and 100 years, respectively, challenging calcification processes. Adding to the problem, antarctic calcified benthic marine organisms are more vulnerable to ocean acidification than temperate and tropical species because they are generally weakly calcified. Many antarctic organisms are essentially stenothermal, and those in the West Antarctic Peninsula are being subjected to rising seawater temperatures. The project employs both single-species and multi-species level approaches to evaluating the impacts of rising ocean acidification and seawater temperature on representative calcified and non-calcified macroalgae, on calcified and non-calcified mesograzers, and on a calcified macro-grazer, all of which are important ecological players in the rich benthic communities. Multi-species analysis will focus on the diverse assemblage of amphipods and mesogastropods that are associated with dominant macroalgae that collectively play a key role in community dynamics along the WAP. The project will support undergraduate research, both through NSF programs, as well as home university-based programs, some designed to enhance the representation of minorities in the sciences. The principal investigators also will support and foster graduate education through mentoring of graduate students. Through their highly successful UAB IN ANTARCTICA interactive web program, they will continue to involve large numbers of teachers, K-12 students, and other members of the community at large in their scientific endeavors in Antarctica.