A baseline assessment of coastal pH variability in a temperate South African embayment: implications for biological ocean acidification research

Compared with the open ocean, knowledge of pH variability in coastal waters is rudimentary, especially in Africa. This is concerning as quantifying local pH conditions is critical when assessing the response of coastal species to future ocean acidification scenarios. The objective of this study was to capture some of the variability in pH at scales and sites relevant to coastal marine organisms in a South African temperate embayment (Algoa Bay, Indian Ocean). We used a sampling approach that captured spatial (at a resolution of similar to 10 km), monthly and diel (24-hour) variability in pH and associated physical and biological parameters at offshore and shallow inshore sites in Algoa Bay. We found that pH and associated parameters (temperature, calculated pCO(2), chlorophyll a) varied over space and time in Algoa Bay. The range in pH was 0.30 units at offshore sites and 0.46 at inshore sites, and the average pH was 8.10 (SD 0.06) and 8.10 (SD 0.13) at these sites, respectively, which is typical for coastal environments. Our results showed that both biological factors (at the offshore sites) and salinity (at the inshore sites) may influence temporal and spatial variability in pH. We also identified a shallow inshore site with high levels of macroalgal growth that had consistently higher average daytime pH levels (8.33 [SD 0.07]), which may serve as an ocean acidification refuge for coastal marine species. This is the first comprehensive pH-monitoring study to be implemented in a nearshore coastal area in Africa and provides recommendations for monitoring in other understudied regions.

Automated summary

Compared to the open ocean, there is limited knowledge of pH variability in coastal waters, particularly in Africa. This study aimed to investigate the variability of pH in a South African temperate embayment, Algoa Bay. The results showed that pH and associated parameters varied over space and time, and biological factors and salinity were found to influence pH variability. The study also identified a shallow inshore site with higher average pH levels, potentially serving as a refuge for coastal marine species in the face of ocean acidification.