Corals can tolerate acidification of the water - and thus survive if warming?
Oceanographers again muddy water. Until now it was thought that coral reefs can not tolerate acidification of the oceans. Particular concern is caused against the background of imminent water acidification due to increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Solutions, it turns into carbonic acid - not much, but still lower the pH of seawater. It was believed that corals are extremely sensitive to these processes and the development of global warming are in grave danger.
However, California oceanographer Andreas Andersson (Andreas Andersson) and his colleagues studied the coral reefs of Bermuda for five years, came to a rather paradoxical conclusion: the growing corals themselves increase the acidity of the water - and feel it is completely normal. "At first we were just very puzzled - says Andersson. - All this is just the opposite of what is expected with an increase in the acidity of ocean water. "
Scientists have been monitoring from 2007 to 2012, fixing the local water two sharp peaks acidity - in 2010 and 2011. And the authors were able to show that these peaks are associated with harmful human activity, and with a useful life activity of the corals themselves. Their growing bodies require large amounts of calcium and continuously absorbed its alkaline salts from the water. In addition, increased metabolic rate leads to higher emissions of carbon dioxide - and this led to an increase in acidity.
Andersson and his colleagues noted that two of the detected peak of growth have been associated with the acidity of "fruitful" 2010 and 2011, when the phytoplankton bloom in the vicinity of Bermuda is very intense. Blossomed and feeding them animal coral polyps - followed and acidity increased. And so, it seems, it did not care. Local acidity jump was far superior to anything that can be expected in the coming decades by global warming - but corals feel great.
These observations are very confusing, it seemed almost set a question about the future of coral reefs - priceless treasuries of biodiversity. Until now, almost all agreed that the increase in acidity of the water for them (and their calcium skeletons) is detrimental. But now? .. "If the coral is enough light and food, it is important if they do acidity of the water? - Asks Andreas Andersson. - Now we can not answer it. "
Oceanographers again muddy water. Until now it was thought that coral reefs can not tolerate acidification of the oceans. Particular concern is caused against the background of imminent water acidification due to increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Solutions, it turns into carbonic acid - not much, but still lower the pH of seawater. It was believed that corals are extremely sensitive to these processes and the development of global warming are in grave danger.
However, California oceanographer Andreas Andersson (Andreas Andersson) and his colleagues studied the coral reefs of Bermuda for five years, came to a rather paradoxical conclusion: the growing corals themselves increase the acidity of the water - and feel it is completely normal. "At first we were just very puzzled - says Andersson. - All this is just the opposite of what is expected with an increase in the acidity of ocean water. "
Scientists have been monitoring from 2007 to 2012, fixing the local water two sharp peaks acidity - in 2010 and 2011. And the authors were able to show that these peaks are associated with harmful human activity, and with a useful life activity of the corals themselves. Their growing bodies require large amounts of calcium and continuously absorbed its alkaline salts from the water. In addition, increased metabolic rate leads to higher emissions of carbon dioxide - and this led to an increase in acidity.
Andersson and his colleagues noted that two of the detected peak of growth have been associated with the acidity of "fruitful" 2010 and 2011, when the phytoplankton bloom in the vicinity of Bermuda is very intense. Blossomed and feeding them animal coral polyps - followed and acidity increased. And so, it seems, it did not care. Local acidity jump was far superior to anything that can be expected in the coming decades by global warming - but corals feel great.
These observations are very confusing, it seemed almost set a question about the future of coral reefs - priceless treasuries of biodiversity. Until now, almost all agreed that the increase in acidity of the water for them (and their calcium skeletons) is detrimental. But now? .. "If the coral is enough light and food, it is important if they do acidity of the water? - Asks Andreas Andersson. - Now we can not answer it. "
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