Ocean acidification and warming scenarios increase microbioerosion of coral skeletons

• Published in: Global change biology 2013-06, Vol.19 (6), p.1919-1929
• Main Authors: Reyes-Nivia, Catalina, Diaz-Pulido, Guillermo, Kline, David, Guldberg, Ove-Hoegh, Dove, Sophie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids - chemistry; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Anthozoa - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Climate change; Cnidaria. Ctenaria; Coral reefs; coral skeleton; dissolution; endolithic algae; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Global warming; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Invertebrates; Isopora; Marine conservation; Marine ecology; Microalgae - metabolism; microbioerosion; ocean acidification and warming; Oceans and Seas; Ostreobium; Porites; Porites cylindrica
• ISSN: 1354-1013; 1365-2486
• DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12158

Biological mediation of carbonate dissolution represents a fundamental component of the destructive forces acting on coral reef ecosystems. Whereas ocean acidification can increase dissolution of carbonate substrates, the combined impact of ocean acidification and warming on the microbioerosion of coral skeletons remains unknown. Here, we exposed skeletons of the reef‐building corals, Porites cylindrica and Isopora cuneata, to present‐day (Control: 400 μatm – 24 °C) and future pCO2–temperature scenarios projected for the end of the century (Medium: +230 μatm – +2 °C; High: +610 μatm – +4 °C). Skeletons were also subjected to permanent darkness with initial sodium hypochlorite incubation, and natural light without sodium hypochlorite incubation to isolate the environmental effect of acidic seawater (i.e., Ωaragonite