U.S.-China LMR Bilateral, June 13, 2011

NOAA Research to Understand the NOAA Research to Understand the Ecological, Biodiversity, and Fisheries Ecological, Biodiversity, and Fisheries

Impacts of Ocean AcidificationImpacts of Ocean Acidification

Dr. Rusty Brainard Dr. Rusty Brainard Pacific Islands Fisheries Science CenterPacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

Dr. Mike Sigler Dr. Mike Sigler Alaska Fisheries Science CenterAlaska Fisheries Science Center

Ocean Acidification

Modified from Doney et al. Ann. Rev. Mar. Sci. 2009

Observed decline in the surface ocean

pH and Aragonite

Saturation State

Coral Reef calcification • 1765 Adequate• 2000 Marginal• 2100 LowCalcification rates in the tropics may decrease by 30% over the next century

Projections of Aragonite Saturation

After Feely et al (2008) with Modeled Saturation Levels from Orr et al (2005)

Major Gap

CENOZOIC MESOZOIC PALEOZOIC PRECAMBRIAN

Age (Ma) From Signor (1990)

Number ofGenera

Biological Impacts of Acidification

65 200 251 360 444

Cretaceous/Tertiary

Triassic/Jurassic

Permian/Triassic

LateDevonian

Ordovician/Silurian

Era

Coral Reef Gap

Corals Calcareous plankton

Doney et al (2009) Doney et al (2009) Ann. Rev. Mar. Sci.Ann. Rev. Mar. Sci.

China

Pacific Islands Region

Pacific Islands Region

Seawater carbonate Seawater carbonate chemistrychemistry

Ecological impacts of Ecological impacts of acidification acidification

Spatial surveys across gradients of Spatial surveys across gradients of oceanographic oceanographic conditions, habitats, and conditions, habitats, and human impacts human impacts

Long-term Monitoring of Coral Reefs (fish, coral, algae)Long-term Monitoring of Coral Reefs (fish, coral, algae)

Organism response experiments – lab and mesocosmOrganism response experiments – lab and mesocosm

Monitor Calcification Rates of Reef-buildersMonitor Calcification Rates of Reef-builders

Monitor shifts in Biodiversity and Community StructureMonitor shifts in Biodiversity and Community Structure

Atlantis Ecosystem ModelingAtlantis Ecosystem Modeling

Time series observations from: repeated Time series observations from: repeated surveys surveys and moored instrumentsand moored instruments

NOAA developed Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures NOAA developed Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) as a systematic tool to assess and monitor changes (ARMS) as a systematic tool to assess and monitor changes in benthic community composition (biodiversity), particularly in benthic community composition (biodiversity), particularly calcifying organisms likely to be influenced by ocean calcifying organisms likely to be influenced by ocean acidification.acidification.

Biodiversity Shifts: ARMSBiodiversity Shifts: ARMS

Organisms recorded from a cubic foot of reef on Moorea, approximate size of a single ARMS. Collected by MBP researchers and David Littschwager; used with permission.

Organisms recorded from a cubic foot of reef on Moorea, approximately the size of a single ARMS. Collected by MBP researchers and David Littschwager; used with permission.

NOAA and partners have initiated deployment of a NOAA and partners have initiated deployment of a global array of ARMS to establish a baseline of spatial global array of ARMS to establish a baseline of spatial patterns cryptic invertebrate diversity of coral reefs. patterns cryptic invertebrate diversity of coral reefs. Long-term monitoring of these sites will be used to Long-term monitoring of these sites will be used to assess shifts in benthic community structure in assess shifts in benthic community structure in response to ocean acidification. response to ocean acidification.

Collaborative ARMS in Chinese coastal waters?

Biodiversity Shifts: ARMSBiodiversity Shifts: ARMS

POTENTIAL EFFECTS

Reduced calcification rates Reduced growth and survival Shifts in nutrient and trace

element speciation Shifts in phytoplankton diversity Changes to biogeochemical

cycles, food webs and ecosystems

Uncertainities great – research required

Ocean Acidification

POTENTIAL DIRECT EFFECTS FOR BIVALVE AND CRUSTACEAN FISHERIES

Research Strategy• Ocean chemistry

monitoring• Experiments on a

range of taxa• Population models

and forecasts

US-China Collaboration US-China Collaboration OpportunitiesOpportunities Monitor carbonate chemistry in Chinese coastal coral Monitor carbonate chemistry in Chinese coastal coral reefs? reefs?

Monitor biodiversity and community structure in Chinese Monitor biodiversity and community structure in Chinese coastal coral reefs using NOAA’s Autonomous Reef coastal coral reefs using NOAA’s Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS)?Monitoring Structures (ARMS)?

Monitor recruitment and calcification in Chinese coastal Monitor recruitment and calcification in Chinese coastal coral reefs using NOAA’s Calcification Acidification Units coral reefs using NOAA’s Calcification Acidification Units (CAUs)?(CAUs)?

Thank Thank You!You!

Any Any Questions? Questions?

Scientist exchanges for above ocean acidification research? Scientist exchanges for above ocean acidification research?