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High CO2 enhances the competitive strength of seaweeds over corals.
Ecol Lett. 2011 Feb; 14(2):156-62
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04 Jan 2011
DOI: 10.3410/f.7275957.7518063
This study demonstrates that elevated CO2 and the resulting ocean acidification alters coral-algal competition, speeding the demise of coral reefs by advantaging seaweeds over corals.
Coral reefs have been in rapid global decline, with seaweeds replacing corals. With ocean acidification upon us, it looks...Continue reading
Coral reefs have been in rapid global decline, with seaweeds replacing corals. With ocean acidification upon us, it looks...Continue reading
This study demonstrates that elevated CO2 and the resulting ocean acidification alters coral-algal competition, speeding the demise of coral reefs by advantaging seaweeds over corals.
Coral reefs have been in rapid global decline, with seaweeds replacing corals. With ocean acidification upon us, it looks like bad forecasts may get even worse. These authors grew a common brown seaweed and a common reef coral under variable levels of CO2 representing pre-industrial, present-day, and predicted levels at mid-century and late-century. Late century levels of CO2 resulted in the seaweed killing all coral in <3 weeks while 50% survived this time period at present day levels of CO2. Interestingly, seaweeds appeared to damage corals much more (about 60% mortality) at present day-levels than at pre-industrial levels (0% mortality) by 3 weeks into the experiment – suggesting that ocean acidification may already be advantaging seaweeds over corals. The focus of most climate change/ocean acidification studies has been on obvious and direct effects on organism physiology. While these considerations are important, they could be overwhelmed by these more complex changes in ecological interaction strengths and directions. Potential changes in these more complex interactions need to be more broadly appreciated and carefully studied; investigations like this one will promote such studies by showing their strong potential consequences.
Coral reefs have been in rapid global decline, with seaweeds replacing corals. With ocean acidification upon us, it looks like bad forecasts may get even worse. These authors grew a common brown seaweed and a common reef coral under variable levels of CO2 representing pre-industrial, present-day, and predicted levels at mid-century and late-century. Late century levels of CO2 resulted in the seaweed killing all coral in <3 weeks while 50% survived this time period at present day levels of CO2. Interestingly, seaweeds appeared to damage corals much more (about 60% mortality) at present day-levels than at pre-industrial levels (0% mortality) by 3 weeks into the experiment – suggesting that ocean acidification may already be advantaging seaweeds over corals. The focus of most climate change/ocean acidification studies has been on obvious and direct effects on organism physiology. While these considerations are important, they could be overwhelmed by these more complex changes in ecological interaction strengths and directions. Potential changes in these more complex interactions need to be more broadly appreciated and carefully studied; investigations like this one will promote such studies by showing their strong potential consequences.
Disclosures
None declared
Add Comment
Hay M: F1000Prime Recommendation of [Diaz-Pulido G et al., Ecol Lett 2011, 14(2):156-62]. In F1000Prime, 04 Jan 2011; DOI: 10.3410/f.7275957.7518063. F1000Prime.com/7275957#eval7518063
14 Jan 2011
DOI: 10.3410/f.7275957.7895065
In the wake of the international year of biodiversity, I am very grateful to Mark Hay for highlighting this paper, which indeed brings a new perspective to the problems related to our entry into anthropocene, and of the importance of reducing the amounts of...Continue reading
In the wake of the international year of biodiversity, I am very grateful to Mark Hay for highlighting this paper, which indeed brings a new perspective to the problems related to our entry into anthropocene, and of the importance of reducing the amounts of carbon dioxide produced by human activities.
Indeed, despite the reluctance of certain political powers to accept the evidence, and to act upon it, it is now commonly accepted that global warming is under way, and that this is directly related to rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This is expected to lead to the extinction of numerous species because it will dramatically alter many natural environments and ecosystems. Coral reefs are extremely rich sources of biodiversity, and none more so than the Great Barrier Reef, but reefs rely on fragile equilibria between thousands of different organisms. If, as underlined by the results of this paper, increased levels of CO2 give the cutting edge to seaweed over corals in the competition for the occupation of the oceans' shallow waters, this coming century could see an even wider range of extinctions than anticipated.
Note added in proof: The evaluation contributed by Mark Hay was apparently the 100.000th evaluation of Faculty of 1000. What an appropriate coincidence for such an important message!
Indeed, despite the reluctance of certain political powers to accept the evidence, and to act upon it, it is now commonly accepted that global warming is under way, and that this is directly related to rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This is expected to lead to the extinction of numerous species because it will dramatically alter many natural environments and ecosystems. Coral reefs are extremely rich sources of biodiversity, and none more so than the Great Barrier Reef, but reefs rely on fragile equilibria between thousands of different organisms. If, as underlined by the results of this paper, increased levels of CO2 give the cutting edge to seaweed over corals in the competition for the occupation of the oceans' shallow waters, this coming century could see an even wider range of extinctions than anticipated.
Note added in proof: The evaluation contributed by Mark Hay was apparently the 100.000th evaluation of Faculty of 1000. What an appropriate coincidence for such an important message!
Disclosures
None declared
Joly E: F1000Prime Recommendation of [Diaz-Pulido G et al., Ecol Lett 2011, 14(2):156-62]. In F1000Prime, 14 Jan 2011; DOI: 10.3410/f.7275957.7895065. F1000Prime.com/7275957#eval7895065
F1000Prime Recommendations, Dissents and Comments for [Diaz-Pulido G et al., Ecol Lett 2011, 14(2):156-62]. In F1000Prime, 22 May 2013; F1000Prime.com/7275957
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Comment by:
Richard Grant,
F1000
10 Jan 2011, 2:30 PM
10 Jan 2011, 2:30 PM
This was our 100,000th evaluation! See an interview with Faculty Member Mark Hay at http://blog.the-scientist.com/2011/01/07/f100k/
Disclosures:
None declared.
Space competition between corals and seaweeds is an important ecological process underlying coral-reef dynamics. Processes promoting seaweed growth and survival, such as herbivore overfishing and eutrophication, can lead to local reef degradation. Here, we present the case that increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO(2) may be an additional process driving a shift from corals to seaweeds on reefs. Coral (Acropora intermedia) mortality in contact with a common coral-reef seaweed (Lobophora papenfussii) increased two- to threefold between background CO(2) (400 ppm) and highest level projected for late 21st century (1140 ppm). The strong interaction between CO(2) and seaweeds on coral mortality was most likely attributable to a chemical competitive mechanism, as control corals with algal mimics showed no mortality. Our results suggest that coral (Acropora) reefs may become increasingly susceptible to seaweed proliferation under ocean acidification, and processes regulating algal abundance (e.g. herbivory) will play an increasingly important role in maintaining coral abundance.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01565.x
PMID: 21155961
