Journal
ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE, VOL 5
Volume 5, Issue -, Pages 321-348Publisher
ANNUAL REVIEWS
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-121211-172241
Keywords
CO2; CaCO3; aragonite; Mg calcite; calcification
Funding
- Division Of Ocean Sciences
- Directorate For Geosciences [928406] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
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The persistence of carbonate structures on coral reefs is essential in providing habitats for a large number of species and maintaining the extraordinary biodiversity associated with these ecosystems. As a consequence of ocean acidification (OA), the ability of marine calcifiers to produce calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and their rate of CaCO3 production could decrease while rates of bioerosion and CaCO3 dissolution could increase, resulting in a transition from a condition of net accretion to one of net erosion. This would have negative consequences for the role and function of coral reefs and the eco-services they provide to dependent human communities. In this article, we review estimates of bioerosion, CaCO3 dissolution, and net ecosystem calcification (NEC) and how these processes will change in response to OA. Furthermore, we critically evaluate the observed relationships between NEC and seawater aragonite saturation state (Omega(a)). Finally, we propose that standardized NEC rates combined with observed changes in the ratios of dissolved inorganic carbon to total alkalinity owing to net reef metabolism may provide a biogeochemical tool to monitor the effects of OA in coral reef environments.
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