Ocean Acidification: Coral Inorganic Carbon Processing in Response to Ocean Acidification

人类活动产生并释放到大气中的二氧化碳有很大一部分溶解在海洋沃茨中，导致海洋酸化。 酸化会削弱许多钙化生物（包括造礁珊瑚）形成碳酸钙外壳或骨骼的能力，但这些影响的机制尚不清楚。该项目将增进对珊瑚无机碳处理的了解，从而深入了解海洋酸化对珊瑚钙化和光合作用的影响。微电极和膜入口质谱法将用于测量无机碳和其他化学物质的浓度和反应速率，这些化学物质参与了加勒比三种珊瑚的钙化和光合作用。一个主要目标是验证MIMS技术和微电极在珊瑚中的使用。测量结果将用于建立珊瑚中无机碳处理的数值模型，以限制化学通量和钙化液的成分。提高对海洋酸化对珊瑚影响的机械理解，将有助于对海洋酸化对珊瑚和珊瑚礁的长期影响作出强有力的预测。更广泛的影响：该项目将改善海洋酸化对珊瑚和珊瑚礁生态系统影响的预测。本科生和研究生将接受该项目的培训，外联活动包括教育K-12学生和公众了解海洋酸化。将在现有的一套海洋酸化课程计划中增加一个关于海洋酸化对珊瑚影响的教学单元，并将与浮木教育中心合作，利用海洋酸化教学单元。 研究人员将举办一个名为“共生体”的年度小型研讨会，吸引来自东南部及其他地区的珊瑚和其他共生体的科学家。

A significant portion of the carbon dioxide generated by human activity and released into the atmosphere dissolves into ocean waters, leading to ocean acidification. Acidification can impair the ability of many calcifying organisms, including reef-building corals, to form their calcium carbonate shells or skeletons but the mechanism of these effects is not well understood. This project will improve understanding of inorganic carbon processing in corals thereby providing insight into the effects of ocean acidification on calcification and photosynthesis in corals. Microelectrodes and membrane inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS) will be applied to measure the concentration and reaction rates of inorganic carbon and other chemical species involved in calcification and photosynthesis in three species of Caribbean corals. A major goal is to validate the use of MIMS techniques and microelectrodes in corals. Measurements will be used to develop a numerical model of inorganic carbon processing in corals, allowing chemical fluxes and the composition of the calcifying fluid to be constrained. Improved mechanistic understanding of the effects of ocean acidification on corals will permit robust predications about the longer-term effects of ocean acidification on corals and coral reefs. Broader Impacts: This project will improve predictions of the effects of ocean acidification on corals and coral reef ecosystems. Undergraduate and graduate students will be trained on the project and outreach activities include educating K-12 students and the general public about ocean acidification. A teaching module on the effects of ocean acidification on corals will be added to an existing set of ocean acidification lesson plans and a collaboration with the Driftwood Education Center will be established to make use of the ocean acidification teaching module. The investigators will host an annual mini-symposium called "Symbiofest", which attracts scientists working on corals and other symbioses from around the south-east and beyond.