Impacts of ocean acidification on key benthic ecosystems, communities, habitats, species and life cycles

在过去的2500万年里，世界海洋的平均酸度（pH）一直很稳定。然而，海洋现在从大气中吸收了如此多的人为二氧化碳，以至于可以看到海水pH值和碳酸盐化学的可测量变化。据预测，这可能会影响许多海洋生物的基本生物学功能。这反过来又可能对人口和社区的生存以及维持生物多样性和生态系统功能产生影响。在英国周围的海洋中，构成海底的栖息地以及与之相关的动物在维持健康和富有成效的海洋生态系统方面发挥着至关重要的作用。考虑到世界上40%的人口生活在距离海岸100公里以内，其中许多人依赖沿海系统获得食物、经济繁荣和福祉，这一点很重要。鉴于沿海栖息地也拥有令人难以置信的高水平生物多样性，任何影响这些重要生态系统的环境变化都可能产生重大的环境和经济影响。在最近的几次国际会议上，科学专家得出结论，迫切需要进行新的研究。我们尤其需要长期的研究来确定：哪些生物可能对高二氧化碳耐受，哪些是脆弱的；生物体是否有时间适应或适应这种快速的环境变化；以及决定生态系统结构的个体之间的相互作用将如何受到影响。目前缺乏了解是一个主要问题，因为海洋酸化是一个迅速演变的管理问题，由于知识基础不足，决策者和管理人员正在努力制定有效的战略，以在海洋酸化面前维持和保护海洋环境。该联盟汇集了来自12个英国组织的25名主要研究人员，开始提供迫切需要的知识和理解。这些研究人员有一个统一的愿景，即量化、预测和交流海洋酸化对沿海栖息地生物多样性和生态系统功能的影响。他们将使用实验室实验来确定海洋酸化将改变关键生理过程、生物体行为、动物相互作用、生物多样性和生态系统功能的方式。所获得的了解将用于建立和运行概念、统计和数值模型，以预测未来海洋pH情景对沿海生态系统生物多样性和功能的影响。该联盟还将作为英国海洋酸化研究的焦点，促进许多不同利益方之间的交流；英国和国际科学家、政策制定者、环境管理者、渔民、环保主义者、媒体、学生和公众。

The average acidity (pH) of the world's oceans has been stable for the last 25 million years. However, the oceans are now absorbing so much man made CO2 from the atmosphere that measurable changes in seawater pH and carbonate chemistry can be seen. It is predicted that this could affect the basic biological functions of many marine organisms. This in turn could have implications for the survival of populations and communities, as well as the maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystem function. In the seas around the UK, the habitats that make up the seafloor, along with the animals associated with them, play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy and productive marine ecosystem. This is important considering 40% of the world's population lives within 100 km of the coast and many of these people depend on coastal systems for food, economic prosperity and well-being. Given that coastal habitats also harbour incredibly high levels of biodiversity, any environmental change that affects these important ecosystems could have substantial environmental and economical impacts. During several recent international meetings scientific experts have concluded that new research is urgently needed. In particular we need long-term studies that determine: which organisms are likely to be tolerant to high CO2 and which are vulnerable; whether organisms will have time to adapt or acclimatise to this rapid environmental change; and how the interactions between individuals that determine ecosystem structure will be affected. This current lack of understanding is a major problem as ocean acidification is a rapidly evolving management issue and, with an insufficient knowledge base, policy makers and managers are struggling to formulate effective strategies to sustain and protect the marine environment in the face of ocean acidification. This consortium brings together 25 key researchers from 12 UK organisations to begin to provide the knowledge and understanding so desperately needed. These researchers share a unified vision to quantify, predict and communicate the impact of ocean acidification on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in coastal habitats. They will use laboratory experiments to determine the ways in which ocean acidification will change key physiological processes, organism behaviour, animal interactions, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. The understanding gained will be used to build and run conceptual, statistical and numerical models which will predict the impact of future ocean pH scenarios on the biodiversity and function of coastal ecosystems. The consortium will also act as a focal point for UK ocean acidification research promoting communication between many different interested parties; UK and international scientists, policy makers, environmental managers, fisherman, conservationists, the media, students and the general public.