Difference between revisions of "Calcifiers"
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Ocean acidification, and effect on biological calcification | Ocean acidification, and effect on biological calcification | ||
| − | Information below is mainly drawn from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_acidification. One of the most import papers in this field is the one by Orr et al. (2005), published in Nature ([http://web.archive.org/web/20080625100559 | + | Information below is mainly drawn from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_acidification. One of the most import papers in this field is the one by Orr et al. (2005), published in Nature ([http://web.archive.org/web/20080625100559/ Orr_OnlineNature04095.pdf]) |
Increased CO2 concentrations lead to reduced pH in the oceans, and hence to reduced CO32- concentrations. | Increased CO2 concentrations lead to reduced pH in the oceans, and hence to reduced CO32- concentrations. | ||
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Ω = ([〖Ca〗^(2+) ][〖CO〗_3^(2-)])/K_sp | Ω = ([〖Ca〗^(2+) ][〖CO〗_3^(2-)])/K_sp | ||
| − | If Ω <1, the mineral dissolves; at >1, it can grow. Ca2+ is relatively constant throughout the oceans ([http://www.earthmagazine.org/article/shell-shocked-how-different-creatures-deal-acidifying-ocean www.earthmagazine.org/article/shell-shocked-how-different-creatures-deal-acidifying-ocean]). Since Ksp is a constant, the behavior of the saturation is mostly driven by concentration of CO32- | + | If Ω < 1, the mineral dissolves; at >1, it can grow. Ca2+ is relatively constant throughout the oceans ([http://www.earthmagazine.org/article/shell-shocked-how-different-creatures-deal-acidifying-ocean www.earthmagazine.org/article/shell-shocked-how-different-creatures-deal-acidifying-ocean]). Since Ksp is a constant, the behavior of the saturation is mostly driven by concentration of CO32- |
| − | Due to temperature, pressure and depth, there is a natural horizontal boundary, the ‘horizon’, below which the calcium carbonate is below saturation level, above Ω >1. With increasing acidification, this horizon raises to the top, and more and more calcifying organisms are in zones where it becomes the longer the more difficult to calcify their skeletons. | + | Due to temperature, pressure and depth, there is a natural horizontal boundary, the ‘horizon’, below which the calcium carbonate is below saturation level, above Ω > 1. With increasing acidification, this horizon raises to the top, and more and more calcifying organisms are in zones where it becomes the longer the more difficult to calcify their skeletons. |
| − | There are two forms of calcium carbonate, calcite and aragonite, that are used by ‘calcifying’ organisms. Aragonite dissolves a bit easier than calcite, so the saturation horizon of calcite is a bit lower than the one for aragonite. Also | + | There are two forms of calcium carbonate, calcite and aragonite, that are used by ‘calcifying’ organisms. Aragonite dissolves a bit easier than calcite, so the saturation horizon of calcite is a bit lower than the one for aragonite. Also, there are two forms of calcite: high-magnesium calcite dissolves easier than low-magnesium calcite. |
| − | Main calcifying groups in the oceans are coccolithophores, corals, forams, echinoderms, crustaceans | + | Main calcifying groups in the oceans are coccolithophores, corals, forams, echinoderms, crustaceans (including ostracoda, or seed shrimp; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostracod wikipedia], [http://eol.org/pages/1456/overview EoL]), molluscs (including pteropods or pelagic molluscs, the ‘sea butterflies’: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pteropoda wikipedia], [http://eol.org/pages/4930431/overview EoL]). Different groups use different forms of calcium carbonate: |
* Aragonite: corals; nacre of mollusks; pteropods | * Aragonite: corals; nacre of mollusks; pteropods | ||
* Calcite: coccolitophores, forminifera, crustacean (latter mostly high-magnesium calcite, but also several other forms) | * Calcite: coccolitophores, forminifera, crustacean (latter mostly high-magnesium calcite, but also several other forms) | ||
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Coral reefs are very sensitive to aragonite saturation, and are only found in areas with Ω (aragonite)>3; areas with 3-3.5 are marginal; 3.5: adequate for growth; >4: development of coral reefs. | Coral reefs are very sensitive to aragonite saturation, and are only found in areas with Ω (aragonite)>3; areas with 3-3.5 are marginal; 3.5: adequate for growth; >4: development of coral reefs. | ||
| − | Article on effects of crystal type on effects of acidification: http://micheli.stanford.edu/pdf/Kroeker%202011%20Ecol%20Lett%20Response.pdf and references in there. | + | Article on effects of crystal type on effects of acidification: [http://micheli.stanford.edu/pdf/Kroeker%202011%20Ecol%20Lett%20Response.pdf Kroeker_2011_Ecol_Lett_Response.pdf] and references in there. |
Crustaceans seem to be very robust against the effects of ocean acidification, and we assume the ostracods are no exception here (but will try and get confirmation); pteropods are known to be very sensitive. Having data on these two groups and doing a comparative Species Distribution Modelling exercise should be interesting. | Crustaceans seem to be very robust against the effects of ocean acidification, and we assume the ostracods are no exception here (but will try and get confirmation); pteropods are known to be very sensitive. Having data on these two groups and doing a comparative Species Distribution Modelling exercise should be interesting. | ||
Latest revision as of 17:04, 21 August 2013
Ocean acidification, and effect on biological calcification
Information below is mainly drawn from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_acidification. One of the most import papers in this field is the one by Orr et al. (2005), published in Nature (Orr_OnlineNature04095.pdf)
Increased CO2 concentrations lead to reduced pH in the oceans, and hence to reduced CO32- concentrations.
CO2 (aq) + H2O H2CO3 HCO3− + H+ CO32− + 2 H+
With lower pH, and thus higher [H+] this equilibrium will first be pushed to HCO3-, then to CO2. The saturation state for calcium carbonate is described by
Ω = ([〖Ca〗^(2+) ][〖CO〗_3^(2-)])/K_sp
If Ω < 1, the mineral dissolves; at >1, it can grow. Ca2+ is relatively constant throughout the oceans (www.earthmagazine.org/article/shell-shocked-how-different-creatures-deal-acidifying-ocean). Since Ksp is a constant, the behavior of the saturation is mostly driven by concentration of CO32-
Due to temperature, pressure and depth, there is a natural horizontal boundary, the ‘horizon’, below which the calcium carbonate is below saturation level, above Ω > 1. With increasing acidification, this horizon raises to the top, and more and more calcifying organisms are in zones where it becomes the longer the more difficult to calcify their skeletons.
There are two forms of calcium carbonate, calcite and aragonite, that are used by ‘calcifying’ organisms. Aragonite dissolves a bit easier than calcite, so the saturation horizon of calcite is a bit lower than the one for aragonite. Also, there are two forms of calcite: high-magnesium calcite dissolves easier than low-magnesium calcite.
Main calcifying groups in the oceans are coccolithophores, corals, forams, echinoderms, crustaceans (including ostracoda, or seed shrimp; wikipedia, EoL), molluscs (including pteropods or pelagic molluscs, the ‘sea butterflies’: wikipedia, EoL). Different groups use different forms of calcium carbonate:
- Aragonite: corals; nacre of mollusks; pteropods
- Calcite: coccolitophores, forminifera, crustacean (latter mostly high-magnesium calcite, but also several other forms)
Coral reefs are very sensitive to aragonite saturation, and are only found in areas with Ω (aragonite)>3; areas with 3-3.5 are marginal; 3.5: adequate for growth; >4: development of coral reefs.
Article on effects of crystal type on effects of acidification: Kroeker_2011_Ecol_Lett_Response.pdf and references in there.
Crustaceans seem to be very robust against the effects of ocean acidification, and we assume the ostracods are no exception here (but will try and get confirmation); pteropods are known to be very sensitive. Having data on these two groups and doing a comparative Species Distribution Modelling exercise should be interesting.
