Ocean Acidification Seascape: Linking Natural Variability and Anthropogenic changes in pH and Temperature to Performance in Calcifying Antarctic Marine Invertebrates

本项目支持的研究将研究环境变化对南极一种重要的海洋无脊椎动物、一种远洋软体动物、翼足类动物的影响。本项目主要有两项活动：(1)部署海洋设备？在这种情况下，自动记录称为SeaFETs的pH传感器和其他记录温度和盐度的设备，以及(2)在麦克默多站的实验室中使用这些环境数据来研究海洋无脊椎动物对未来几十年预计的水质变化的反应。值得注意的是，海洋pH值的变化（又称海洋酸化）和海洋变暖预计将特别威胁到冷水、高纬度海域的钙化海洋生物，这使得这些生物的耐受性数据成为南极海洋生态系统研究的关键需要。这些南极有壳动物特别容易受到海洋酸化的溶解压力，因为它们目前居住的海水几乎没有达到支持生物钙化的饱和水平。事实上，这些极地动物被认为是表层海洋化学变化的“第一反应者”。因此，该项目将提供有关南极L. helcina适应能力的信息。从生态学的角度来看，这很重要，因为这种动物是南极沿海水域食物链的关键部分，其丰度的变化将影响其他物种。最后，本项目的研究将为本科生和研究生以及博士后提供培训和教育机会。

The research supported in this project will examine the effects of environmental change on a key Antarctic marine invertebrate, a pelagic mollusk, the pteropod, Limacina helicina antarctica. There are two main activities in this project: (1) to deploy oceanographic equipment ? in this case, autonomously recording pH sensors called SeaFETs and other devices that record temperature and salinity, and (2) to use these environmental data in the laboratory at McMurdo Station to study the response of the marine invertebrates to future changes in water quality that is expected in the next few decades. Notably, changes in oceanic pH (aka ocean acidification) and ocean warming are projected to be particularly threatening to calcifying marine organisms in cold-water, high latitude seas, making tolerance data on these organisms a critical research need in Antarctic marine ecosystems. These Antarctic shelled-animals are especially vulnerable to dissolution stress from ocean acidification because they currently inhabit seawater that is barely at the saturation level to support biogenic calcification. Indeed, these polar animals are considered to be the 'first responders' to chemical changes in the surface oceans. Thus, this project will lead to information about the adaptive capacity of L. helcina antarctica. From an ecological perspective this is important because this animal is a critical part of the Antarctic food chain in coastal waters and changes in its abundance will impact other species. Finally, the research conducted in this project will serve as a training and educational opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students as well as postdoctoral scholars.