Preparing to manage coral reefs for ocean acidification: lessons from coral bleaching
Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide is driving ocean acidification, threatening coral reef ecosystems worldwide. This article examines how marine protected area design can address acidification and identifies five research priorities needed to integrate ocean acidification into reef conservation planning and management.
Subject Tags
- Reefs
Abstract
Ocean acidification is a direct consequence of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations and is expected to compromise the structure and function of coral reefs within this century. Research into the effects of ocean acidification on coral reefs has focused primarily on measuring and predicting changes in seawater carbon (C) chemistry and the biological and geochemical responses of reef organisms to such changes. To date, few ocean acidification studies have been designed to address conservation planning and management priorities. Here, we discuss how existing marine protected area design principles developed to address coral bleaching may be modified to address ocean acidification. We also identify five research priorities needed to incorporate ocean acidification into conservation planning and management: (1) establishing an ocean C chemistry baseline, (2) establishing ecological baselines, (3) determining species/habitat/community sensitivity to ocean acidification, (4) projecting changes in seawater carbonate chemistry, and (5) identifying potentially synergistic effects of multiple stressors.
Citation
Mcleod, E., Anthony, K. R., Andersson, A., Beeden, R., Golbuu, Y., Kleypas, J., ... & Smith, J. E. (2013). Preparing to manage coral reefs for ocean acidification: lessons from coral bleaching. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 11(1), 20-27.
TNC Authors
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Elizabeth Mcleod
Global Director, Oceans. Global Oceans
The Nature Conservancy
Email: emcleod@tnc.org -
Yimnang Golbuu
Director of Conservation, Micronesia and Polynesia.
The Nature Conservancy
Email: yimnang.golbuu@tnc.org -
Rod V. Salm
The Nature Conservancy