Wenxi Zhu, Somkiat Khokiattiwong, Rusty Brainard, Maria Lourdes San Diego-McGlone, Suchana Apple Chavanich, Tan Shau Hwai etc.

IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC)Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, UNESCO

Phuket, Thailand , 29-31 August 2016

What we have done?Brief on the 1st and 2nd WESTPAC Workshop on Monitoring of the Ecological Impacts of Ocean

Acidification on Coral Reef Ecosystems

9th International Scientific Symposium

IOC/WESTPAC

“A Healthy Ocean for Prosperity in the Western Pacific: Scientific Challenges and Possible Solutions”

22-25 April 2014Sheraton Hotel, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, Vietnam

2

• To share existing and proposed ocean acidification monitoring and research approaches, methods, and techniques;

• To improve the understanding, and develop regional capability of research and long-term monitoring on ocean acidification in the Western Pacific and its adjacent regions; and

• To identify challenges, gaps and explore the possibility, building on existing coral reef monitoring initiatives, of a joint long-term monitoring and associated research program on the impacts of ocean acidification on coral reefs in the region.

Objectives of the 1st workshop (19-21 January 2015)

Structure of the 1st workshop

• Session 1: Setting the Scene• Session 2: OA research and monitoring status in the region• Session 3: Approaches and challenges• Session 4: Breakout session• Session 5: Brainstorming on the way forward• Session 6: Recommendations and conclusions

OA research and monitoring status

• Bangladesh: very limited• Cambodia: not yet conducted• China: just started in-situ monitoring at limited areas• Indonesia: limited research and laboratory experiments• Korea: on a certain level with focus on OA effects on oyster• Malaysia: on a certain level with focus on corals and bivalves• Philippines: on a certain level with focus on corals• Thailand: on a certain level• Vietnam: not yet conducted

Approaches and challenges

• Case Study: NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program, particularly its Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program

Breakout sessions• Physical/chemical group:

• developed a draft outline for carbonate monitoring in the region,• mapping existing capacity for carbonate chemistry analysis,• identification of capacity building requirements

CLASS PARAMETERS DEPLOYMENT ANALYSIS NO. OFSTATION

FREQUENCY(NO. PER

YEAR) OTHERS /

COMMENTS

3 25 stratified random water samples at surface (top 1m) & bottom (DIC, TA), moored MapCO2buoy (or equivalent to provide continuous measurements of carbonate chemistry, pCO2 and pH)• Disease and abnormality of corals/health condition of corals (includes bleaching) 3• Microbial community (patogenic or non-patogenic?) 3

2 Diurnal water sampling every 4 hours (for a few days)Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) to measure crytobiota diversity -9-12 unitsCalcification Accretion Units (CAUs) to measure rates of production of calcium carbonate’ – 4 sets of 5Bioerosion Measurement Units (BMUs) to measure rates of bioerosion- 4 sets of 5Subsurface Temperature Recorders at 1m, 5m, 15m, 25m- 12 coral cores- photoqradrat transect- Rugosity measurements- Microbial diversity and abundance- Standard Pacific RAMP biological monitoring of abundance, diversity and condition of fish,

corals, macroinvertebrates, algae• Coral recruitment 2• Coral growth/calcification rate 2• Calcium carbonate Accretion rate 2• Photographic transect (techniques for archive) 2• Bioerosion 2

1 STR (Subsurface Temperature Recorder)• Biodiversity (species richness, abundance)o Fish 1§ Invertebrates of importance to fisheries (sea cucumber, sea urchins, molluscs, crustaceans

etc.) communities 1Coral growth/calcification rate 1Calcium carbonate Accretion rate 1Photographic transect (techniques for archive) 1

0 Water samples (refer the top parameter)• Benthic Cover 0o Live coral cover o Community composition (on the surface) –general classification Any key species?

Indicator species?o Coralline and macroalgae cover

• Biodiversity (species richness, abundance) § Invertebrates of importance to fisheries (sea cucumber, sea urchins, molluscs, crustaceans

etc.) communities 0 • Use of the reef 0• Level of protection (eg. Marine park, no-take zone) 0

Antropogenic use DescriptionLevel of Protection

Other Biological Communities Level of Usage

BenthicsFish

Other prioritized list Indicator species (lobsters, conch etc.)

BIOLOGICAL GROUPCOUNTRY: …………….

• Bangladesh: Saint Martin’s Island• China:

Weizhou IslandEast coast, Hainan Island

• Malaysia:Bidong IslandCape Racardo

• Indonesia:Pari islandMataram site in Kodek Bay

• Philippines:Bolinao, PangasinanLian, BatangasSablayan, Occidental MindoroTaytay, RizalMactan, CebuSamal Is., off Davao CitySan Juan, SiquijorBongao, Tawi-Tawi

• Thailand:Ko Racha Yai (Island)Ko Miang (Island)Sameasan (Island)

• Vietnam:Nha Trang BayPhu Quoc Island

(20° 37' 38.12" N, 92° 19' 21.28” E)

(21° 1' 19.20" N, 109° 4' 37.20" E)(19° 16' 23.88“ - 19° 58' 59.88" N,110° 39' 24.12“ - 110° 59' 26.52" E)

(5° 37' 18.36" N, 103° 4' 19.55" E)(2° 27' 31.10" N, 101° 50' 48.08" E)

(5° 51' 40.21" S, 106° 35' 48.59" E)(8° 23' 19.06" S, 116° 6' 13.96" E)

(16° 26' 16.39" N, 119° 56' 46.13" E)(13° 59' 46.40" N, 120° 37' 23.23" E)(12° 51' 2.3826" N, 120° 46' 31.3572" E)(10° 54' 42.86" N, 119° 31' 51.86" E)(10° 17' 6.8028" N, 124° 0' 4.4568" E)(07° 09' 47.40" N, 125° 40' 54.68" E)(9° 10' 31.2342" N, 123° 27' 42.1416" E)(5° 2' 46.536" N, 119° 44' 21.534" E)

(07º 35' 40.4" N, 98º 22' 7.5" E)(08º 33' 41" N, 97º 38' 26" E)(07° 11' 83.7" N, 13° 93' 46.9" E)

(12° 00’ - 12° 45’ N, 109° 15' - 109° 30' E)(09° 45’ - 10° 30’ N, 103° 55' - 104° 05' E)

Conclusions

• Analyse the current monitoring capacity• Identify common monitoring methods• Develop a consistent, comparable &

cost-effective “Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)”

To assist, through capacity building, pilot sites to develop a “Standard Operating Procedure” for ocean acidification monitoring, building upon their existing reef monitoring systems/capacity.

the 2nd training workshop (26-28 August 2016)

What has been learnt at the 2nd workshop

• Introduction to CO2 Chemistry in seawater

• Measuring Carbon Dioxide Parameters for OceanAcidification Observing Systems

• Introduction on how to use CO2SYS

• Introduction to monitoring of biological parameters• Monitoring bioerosion

• Monitoring accretion and calcification

• Monitoring biodiversity

• Globally coordinated ocean acidification observation and IOC-UNESCO's role in GOA-ON

What has been done-mapping the monitoring capacity in pilot sites

What has been concluded

� Carbonate Collection and Handling SOP Working Group

� Total Alkalinity Working Group

� Spectrophotometric pH Working Group

� Biology Working Group

“Advancing Ocean Knowledge，Fostering Sustainable Development:

from the Indo-Pacific to the Globe”

17-20 April 2017, Qingdao,China

http://www.iocwestpac10.comiocwestpac10@fio.org.cn; iocwestpac10@yahoo.com

IMPORTANT DATESRegistration, abstract submission, travel grant applcation and Best Young Scientist Award application open

Deadline for early registration, abstract submission, travel grant application, and Best Young Scientist Award application

Abstract acceptance notification, travel grant notification

Confirmation of participation by paper & oral presenters

10th WESTPAC International Scientific Conference opens

08 Jul 2016:

15 Nov 2016:

15 Dec 2016:

15 Jan 2017:

17 Apr 2017:

Recommendations

Acknowledgement: Tan Shau Hwai

How to lessen Ocean Acidification?

One of the easiest ways to lessen Ocean Acidification is to reduce fossil fuel usage, to name a few. Of all the ways to produce less CO2, the simplest ways start with each human inhabitant on the planet.

x Choose a lower CO2 emitting transportation: Take a bus, carpool, cycle or walk over short distances. If you really have to travel, choose the mode with lesser CO2 emitting features, service your car, invest in hybrid energy transportation, all of which makes travel more fuel efficient.

x Reuse- Reduce- Recycle long lifespan products such as fabrics and plastics to lessen the demand for production, land clearing and deforestation to make way for wastelands, lessening CO2 emission.

x Be local, Eat local. Eating locally produced food lessen the carbon footprint from food import and it will support and strengthen the local livelihoods.

x Choose your lower CO2 emitting diet. Land animal farming produces more CO2 than any other industries. Eat more vegetables and less dairy products instead.

Did you know?

Since the beginning of the industrial era, the ocean has absorbed some 525 billion tons of CO2 from the atmosphere, presently around 22 million tons per day.

In the past 200 years alone, ocean water has become 30% more acidic from pH8.179 to pH8.069 now—faster than any known change in ocean chemistry in the last 50 million years (SCOR 2009).

The northwest coast oyster hatcheries of the United States of America nearly collapsed in 2008. New-born oyster deaths and 80% reduced production strongly related to ocean acidification almost cost the USA US$ 270 million in revenue and 3,200 employments.

OCEAN ACIDIFICATION

AND YOU

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Contact Us:

Recommendations

Acknowledgement: Tan Shau Hwai

What is Ocean Acidification (OA)?

The Chemistry of Ocean Acidification

(1)Carbon dioxide (CO2) from fossil fuel burning and industries is expelled into the atmosphere.

(2) It is this pool of CO2 that combines with seawater to produce carbonic acid (H2CO3) and dissolves rapidly to form more H+ ions (an acid) and HCO3- (a base).

(3)Seawater is naturally saturated with carbonate ion (CO32-) that acts to neutralizes H+, forming more bicarbonate. The more H+ ions forms, it will decrease the CO32- ion concentration in the water.

How does Ocean Acidification affect the ocean?

A reduced seawater pH lowers carbonate ion concentration and saturation states of biologically important calcium carbonate minerals.

Deep Sea acidic waters in the Southern Ocean is already dissolving the aragonite shells of planktons, which is a more delicate form of Calcium Carbonate, 50 % more soluble in seawater. These plankton are main producers in the food chain and support a large array of bigger organisms. Imagine what would happen if the base of the food chain disappears (Smithsonian Natural Museum of Natural History).

Reef building corals build their skeleton from available Calcium Carbonate in the seawater. Acidification may limit coral growth by corroding pre-existing coral skeleton while simultaneously impeding the growth of new ones. This results in weaker reefs which are more vulnerable to erosion (Smithsonian Natural Museum of Natural History).

The intricate coral reef ecosystem may collapse when the structure of the once healthy reef is thrown off balance. Many fishes rely on the coral reef for protection and food source. This delicate food chain may disappear with the corroding corals.

How does Ocean Acidification affect the community and economy?

Ecologically, the coral reef safeguards tropical coastal communities, buffering shorelines against waves, storms and floods, preventing loss of life, property damage and erosion (NOAA).

Millions of people in the coastal villages in tropical developing countries depend on reefs for their livelihood with about 25 percent of all fish caught in these regions coming from coral reefs. This also benefits the global trade estimated to have a commercial value of over US$ 810 million (FAO).

In addition, the tourism industry is thought to generate RM145 billion per annum through diving tours, transportation, recreational fishing, restaurants and other businesses connected to the reefs (Reef Check).

With the dissolving plankton source in acidic water, the ocean may not be able to sustain the seafood web, causing the shortage of important protein sources such as shrimp and fish. This could hike up the seafood prices as it is a scarce commodity, resulting in more land animal farming which produces larger amounts of greenhouse gasses, 2 billion metric tonnes of methane to be exact. Additionally, 2.8 billion metric tonnes of CO2 from land clearing and deforestation for grazing land will be emitted to support this industry. We will then live in a super-heated, acidic planet if our current high CO2 emitting habits do not change for the better.

© Cherrie Teh, C.P.

© Cherrie Teh, C.P. ©Hasnoor Hussain © SEJ

The phenomena termed Ocean Acidification is actually the reduction in ocean pH over an extended period of time, caused primarily by the uptake of CO2 from the atmosphere.