Mechanisms of acclimation of coralline algae to ocean acidification

该项目旨在研究造礁珊瑚藻在过去的海洋酸化和变暖事件中幸存下来并适应未来变化的生物和生态机制。珊瑚藻在珊瑚礁生态中起着至关重要的作用，但对人为引起的海洋酸化非常敏感。然而，与过去酸化事件相吻合的丰富地质记录与它们对高二氧化碳的敏感性不一致。因此，驯化和适应是可能的，但其方式我们还不了解。该项目预计将提供关键海洋生物适应快速环境变化的能力的见解，并为保护有价值的海洋系统提供关键信息。

This project aims to investigate the biological and ecological mechanisms by which reef-building coralline algae may have survived past ocean acidification and warming events and may acclimate to future changes. Coralline algae play critical roles in coral reef ecology but are sensitive to human-induced ocean acidification. However, the abundant geological record coincident with past acidification events is inconsistent with their sensitivity to high carbon dioxide. Acclimation and adaptation is therefore possible but in ways we do not yet understand. The project expects to provide insights to the ability of key marine organisms to acclimate to rapid environmental change and provide information critical for the conservation of valuable marine systems.