Assessing Ocean Acidification Impacts On The Reef Building Properties Of Crustose Coralline Algae

Download Assessing Ocean Acidification Impacts On The Reef Building Properties Of Crustose Coralline Algae full books in PDF, epub, and Kindle. Read online Assessing Ocean Acidification Impacts On The Reef Building Properties Of Crustose Coralline Algae ebook anywhere anytime directly on your device. Fast Download speed and no annoying ads. We cannot guarantee that every ebooks is available!

Assessing Ocean Acidification Impacts on the Reef Building Properties of Crustose Coralline Algae

Author : Merinda Catherine Nash
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (144 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Assessing Ocean Acidification Impacts on the Reef Building Properties of Crustose Coralline Algae by : Merinda Catherine Nash

Download or read book Assessing Ocean Acidification Impacts on the Reef Building Properties of Crustose Coralline Algae written by Merinda Catherine Nash and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Crustose coralline algae (CCA), and in particular Porolithon onkodes, play an important reef-building role in modern tropical coral reefs. CCA form thick crusts of Mg-calcite and grow over corals and loose substrate to bind these together. This binding and cementing process is fundamental to the development of structural reefs that are capable of withstanding the high-energy waves in the shallow to inter-tidal areas of the reef. As anthropogenic CO2 emissions continue to increase, the oceans absorb part of this extra CO2 and become more acidic, a process known as Ocean Acidification (OA). There are concerns that OA will have a negative affect on the reef-building capacity of coral reef organisms, in particular on CCA. This is because Mg-calcite is meta-stable and more susceptible to dissolution than aragonite, the mineral used by corals to build skeletons. The goal of this thesis work was to firstly understand the physical and mechanical properties that enable the CCA to cement the reef and withstand damage from high-energy waves, bioerosion and chemical dissolution. Secondly, to anticipate how OA may interfere with these reef-building properties. These goals were pursued by setting clear aims with associated specific objectives designed to elucidate information relevant to these questions. Methods were developed for X-ray diffraction to identify the mineral composition of CCA. Nanoindentation was investigated as a tool for determining the mechanical properties of CCA and the measurement of fracture toughness was found to return physically meaningful information relevant to structural reef development. Study of CCA calcification showed that cell wall Mg-calcite exhibited radial crystal morphology in agreement with published studies on temperate species. However, high-resolution imaging showed the radial crystals were made of banded stacked sub-micron grains within an organic framework. Dolomite was found not only as cell lining by submicron rhombs, but also as the primary calcification of hypothallial cell walls. Dolomite is shown to be resistant to bacterial erosion. A model is developed whereby it is proposed that dolomite formation is dependent on polysaccharide accumulation. Using nanoindentation, P. onkodes are found to be extraordinarily tough, on par with the measured fracture toughness for metamorphic minerals quartz and corundum. The fracture toughness is enabled by the presence of dolomite cell lining. Contrary to the literature, bacterial erosion is found to be a constructive, not destructive, process. A survey of P. onkodes from Heron Island fore reef and reef flat showed that dolomite was present in all the fore reef crusts but none of the reef flat crusts. The reef flat crusts did not have fracture resistance except where remineralised. The presence of dolomite cell lining was shown to decrease skeletal dissolution rates by an order of magnitude. OA experiments showed that skeletal dissolution rates increased with elevated pCO2, but dolomite continued to confer resistance to dissolution. pCO2 levels did not affect the skeletal Mg content or dolomite formation in living CCA. Of concern, and in agreement with the literature, bacterial erosion is accelerated under a combination of elevated pCO2 and temperatures, suggesting this may be the main threat to CCA reef-building in the future. The experimental findings were corroborated by results of a field survey along a natural pCO2 gradient. In summary, dolomite was found to be an essential component of modern reef development via its contribution to enabling CCA P. onkodes thick crust development and persistence. Reef building by CCA P. onkodes is likely to continue as pCO2 rises up until a tipping point is reached whereby bacterial erosion switches from constructive to destructive.

Ocean Acidification

Author : National Research Council
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 030916155X
Total Pages : 200 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Ocean Acidification by : National Research Council

Download or read book Ocean Acidification written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2010-09-14 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The ocean has absorbed a significant portion of all human-made carbon dioxide emissions. This benefits human society by moderating the rate of climate change, but also causes unprecedented changes to ocean chemistry. Carbon dioxide taken up by the ocean decreases the pH of the water and leads to a suite of chemical changes collectively known as ocean acidification. The long term consequences of ocean acidification are not known, but are expected to result in changes to many ecosystems and the services they provide to society. Ocean Acidification: A National Strategy to Meet the Challenges of a Changing Ocean reviews the current state of knowledge, explores gaps in understanding, and identifies several key findings. Like climate change, ocean acidification is a growing global problem that will intensify with continued CO2 emissions and has the potential to change marine ecosystems and affect benefits to society. The federal government has taken positive initial steps by developing a national ocean acidification program, but more information is needed to fully understand and address the threat that ocean acidification may pose to marine ecosystems and the services they provide. In addition, a global observation network of chemical and biological sensors is needed to monitor changes in ocean conditions attributable to acidification.

The Effect of Ocean Acidification on the Ecology of Two Tropical Crustose Coralline Algae (phylum Rhodophyta)

Author : Joshua Caraher-Fergusson Manning
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 92 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (119 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Effect of Ocean Acidification on the Ecology of Two Tropical Crustose Coralline Algae (phylum Rhodophyta) by : Joshua Caraher-Fergusson Manning

Download or read book The Effect of Ocean Acidification on the Ecology of Two Tropical Crustose Coralline Algae (phylum Rhodophyta) written by Joshua Caraher-Fergusson Manning and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 92 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Crustose coralline algae (CCA) are important members of coral reef communities. They accrete and consolidate the calcium carbonate framework of coral reefs, and some species are an important settlement substratum for coral larvae. CCA community composition is shaped, at least in part, by herbivory and competition. However, ocean acidification (OA) is negatively affecting CCA, with potential to affect CCA responses to herbivory (wounding) and their ability to compete for space. Changes in seawater chemistry because of OA cause reductions in the recruitment, abundance, and net calcification of CCA. In this thesis, the effects of OA on net calcification, regeneration of wounds, and competition was quantified for two species of CCA common in the back reefs of Mo'orea, French Polynesia; Porolithon onkodes and Lithophyllum insipidum. Three separate experiments were conducted in four flowing seawater tanks (flumes), each set to a different target pCO2 level representative of ambient (~ 400 μatm) or predicted end of the 21 century pCO2 (~ 700, 1000, and 1300 μatm). P. onkodes, was found to be the most abundant species of CCA in the back reefs of Mo'orea, followed by L. flavescens and L. insipidum. The abundance of P. onkodes is likely a direct result of its competitive ability. P. onkodes is thicker on average than the other common CCA in the back reefs of Mo'orea, and thicker species generally become dominant in areas of intense herbivory, such as coral reefs. In a flume experiment conducted from January to March 2016, net calcification declined 85% in P. onkodes at elevated pCO2 compared to a decline of 42% in L. insipidum, indicating that P. onkodes may be more negatively affected by OA. The differential responses to OA found here could alter the outcome of competitive interactions between P. onkodes and L. insipidum, leading to changes in the abundances of these species in CCA communities. Few studies have quantified the potential for OA to interact with natural disturbances, such as wounding of the thallus by herbivores. A flume experiment conducted from May to July 2016 found that there was a 58% reduction in the rate of vertical regeneration of artificial wounds within P. onkodes at elevated pCO2. This result could have important implications for the response of P. onkodes to grazing by excavating herbivores like parrotfish and sea urchins. Inability for CCA to recover from wounding, could increase the susceptibility of CCA to further wounding. In addition, the reductions in vertical regeneration of the wounds could also be indicative of reduced vertical growth rates. CCA with thicker thalli generally outcompete thinner CCA. Reduced vertical growth rates could reduce thallus thickness, and affect the outcome of competitive interactions among CCA. A flume experiment conducted from June to July 2016 found that there was no effect of elevated pCO2 on the outcome of competitive interactions between P. onkodes and L. insipidum. It is likely that this result may have been due to the relatively short duration of this experiment (one month). There was, however, an effect of the identity of the competitor on the proportion of live tissue remaining in focal individuals of P. onkodes. The proportion of live tissue remaining in focal individuals of P. onkodes was significantly lower in intraspecific pairings than in interspecific pairings or when paired with non-living substrate (controls). This result highlights the importance of including both intraspecific and interspecific interactions in future studies of the effects of OA on competition. Experiments of longer durations may elucidate the potential for elevated pCO2 to affect competition among CCA. CCA are ecologically important members of coral reefs. Changes in the community composition of CCA on coral reefs, because of altered competitive abilities under elevated pCO2, could affect the roles that CCA play in building and maintain coral reef ecosystems.

The Future of Coral Reefs Subject to Rapid Climate Change: Lessons from Natural Extreme Environments

Author : Emma F. Camp
Publisher : Frontiers Media SA
ISBN 13 : 2889457176
Total Pages : 198 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (894 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Future of Coral Reefs Subject to Rapid Climate Change: Lessons from Natural Extreme Environments by : Emma F. Camp

Download or read book The Future of Coral Reefs Subject to Rapid Climate Change: Lessons from Natural Extreme Environments written by Emma F. Camp and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2019-01-22 with total page 198 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Examination of corals and reef-associated organisms which endure in extreme coral reef environments is challenging our understanding of the conditions that organisms can survive under. By studying individuals naturally adapted to unfavorable conditions, we begin to better understand the important traits required to survive rapid environmental and climate change. This Research Topic, comprising reviews, and original research articles, demonstrates the current state of knowledge regarding the diversity of extreme coral habitats, the species that have been studied, and the knowledge to-date on the mechanisms, traits and trade-offs that have facilitated survival.

The Great Barrier Reef

Author : Pat Hutchings
Publisher : CSIRO PUBLISHING
ISBN 13 : 0643099972
Total Pages : 396 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (43 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Great Barrier Reef by : Pat Hutchings

Download or read book The Great Barrier Reef written by Pat Hutchings and published by CSIRO PUBLISHING. This book was released on 2008-11-07 with total page 396 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is 344 400 square kilometres in size and is home to one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. This comprehensive guide describes the organisms and ecosystems of the Great Barrier Reef, as well as the biological, chemical and physical processes that influence them. Contemporary pressing issues such as climate change, coral bleaching, coral disease and the challenges of coral reef fisheries are also discussed. In addition,the book includes a field guide that will help people to identify the common animals and plants on the reef, then to delve into the book to learn more about the roles the biota play. Beautifully illustrated and with contributions from 33 international experts, The Great Barrier Reef is a must-read for the interested reef tourist, student, researcher and environmental manager. While it has an Australian focus, it can equally be used as a baseline text for most Indo-Pacific coral reefs. Winner of a Whitley Certificate of Commendation for 2009.

Coralline Algae: Globally Distributed Ecosystem Engineers

Author : Laurie Carol Hofmann
Publisher : Frontiers Media SA
ISBN 13 : 2889638316
Total Pages : 159 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (896 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Coralline Algae: Globally Distributed Ecosystem Engineers by : Laurie Carol Hofmann

Download or read book Coralline Algae: Globally Distributed Ecosystem Engineers written by Laurie Carol Hofmann and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2020-07-08 with total page 159 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Coralline Algae: Past, Present, and Future Perspectives

Author : Laurie Carol Hofmann
Publisher : Frontiers Media SA
ISBN 13 : 2832509800
Total Pages : 152 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (325 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Coralline Algae: Past, Present, and Future Perspectives by : Laurie Carol Hofmann

Download or read book Coralline Algae: Past, Present, and Future Perspectives written by Laurie Carol Hofmann and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2022-12-28 with total page 152 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

The Effects of Nutrient Addition and Ocean Acidification on Tropical Crustose Coralline Algae

Author : Bridget Francine Shayka
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 97 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (122 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Effects of Nutrient Addition and Ocean Acidification on Tropical Crustose Coralline Algae by : Bridget Francine Shayka

Download or read book The Effects of Nutrient Addition and Ocean Acidification on Tropical Crustose Coralline Algae written by Bridget Francine Shayka and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 97 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As the global population increases, the occurrence of multiple anthropogenic impacts on valuable coastal ecosystems, such as coral reefs, also increases. These stressors can be global and long-term, like ocean acidification (OA), or local and short-term, like nutrient runoff in some areas. The combination of these stressors can potentially have additive or interactive effects on the organisms in coral reef communities. Among the most important groups of organisms on coral reefs are crustose coralline algae (CCA), calcifying algae that cement the reef together and contribute to the global carbon cycle. This thesis studied the effects of nutrient addition and OA on Lithophyllum kotschyanum, a common species of CCA on the fringing reefs of Mo'orea, French Polynesia. Two mesocosm experiments tested the individual and interactive effects of OA and short-term nitrate and phosphate addition on L. kotschyanum. These experiments showed that nitrate and phosphate addition together increased photosynthesis, OA had interactive effects with nutrient addition, and after nutrient addition ended, calcification and photosynthetic rates changed in unpredictable ways in different OA and nutrient treatments. Because the results of the first two experiments showed impacts of nutrients even after addition stopped, two more mesocosm experiments were conducted to study the changes in photosynthesis and calcification over hourly time scales more relevant to a single nutrient pulse event. These two experiments revealed the existence of diurnal variation in light-saturated photosynthetic rate, but not calcification rate, under ambient and elevated pCO2. This pattern of increased maximum photosynthesis in the middle of the day can have important implications for how the time of nutrient runoff events during the day impacts CCA physiology. Finally, a field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of short- and long-term nutrient addition on L. kotschyanum. The results showed that a series of short-term nutrient additions did not increase photosynthesis or calcification rates above those in ambient nutrient conditions, but continual nutrient enrichment for 6 weeks increased photosynthetic rates. This increase in photosynthesis under only long-term enrichment shows the need for consideration of specific nutrient addition scenarios on coral reefs when predicting how the community will be affected.

The Effects of Light, Temperature, and Ocean Acidification on the Physiology and Ecology of Tropical Crustose Coralline Algae

Author : Amy A. Briggs
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 127 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (124 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Effects of Light, Temperature, and Ocean Acidification on the Physiology and Ecology of Tropical Crustose Coralline Algae by : Amy A. Briggs

Download or read book The Effects of Light, Temperature, and Ocean Acidification on the Physiology and Ecology of Tropical Crustose Coralline Algae written by Amy A. Briggs and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 127 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

The Combined Effects of Ocean Acidification with Fleshy Macroalgae and Filamentous Turfs on Tropical Crustose Coralline Algae

Author : Lansing Yun Perng
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 111 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (124 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Combined Effects of Ocean Acidification with Fleshy Macroalgae and Filamentous Turfs on Tropical Crustose Coralline Algae by : Lansing Yun Perng

Download or read book The Combined Effects of Ocean Acidification with Fleshy Macroalgae and Filamentous Turfs on Tropical Crustose Coralline Algae written by Lansing Yun Perng and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 111 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Review of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Plan

Author : National Research Council
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309301521
Total Pages : 93 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (93 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Review of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Plan by : National Research Council

Download or read book Review of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Plan written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2013-07-03 with total page 93 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The world's ocean has already experienced a 30% rise in acidity since the industrial revolution, with acidity expected to rise 100 to 150% over preindustrial levels by the end of this century. Potential consequences to marine life and also to economic activities that depend on a healthy marine ecosystem are difficult to assess and predict, but potentially devastating. To address this knowledge gap, Congress passed the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring (FOARAM) Act in 2009, which, among other things, required that an interagency working group create a "Strategic Plan for Federal Research and Monitoring of Ocean Acidification." Review of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Plan reviews the strategic plan on the basis of how well it fulfills program elements laid out in the FOARAM Act and follows the advice provided to the working group in the NRC's 2010 report, Ocean Acidification: A National Strategy to Meet the Challenges of a Changing Ocean. This report concludes that, overall, the plan is strong and provides a comprehensive framework for improving our understanding of ocean acidification. Potential improvements include a better defined strategy for implementing program goals, stronger integration of the seven broad scientific themes laid out in the FOARAM Act, and better mechanisms for coordination among federal agencies and with other U.S. and international efforts to address ocean acidification.

Oceanic Acidification

Author : Ronald Eisler
Publisher : CRC Press
ISBN 13 : 1439896313
Total Pages : 249 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (398 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Oceanic Acidification by : Ronald Eisler

Download or read book Oceanic Acidification written by Ronald Eisler and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2011-10-04 with total page 249 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book critically examines the available literature on oceanic acidification, including a historical review of pH and atmospheric CO2 levels over the millennia; natural and anthropogenic sources of CO2 to the atmosphere and sea surface; chemical, physical, and biological mode of action; biological effects of acidification to marine plants and an

Ocean Acidification

Author : Jean-Pierre Gattuso
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0199591091
Total Pages : 347 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (995 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Ocean Acidification by : Jean-Pierre Gattuso

Download or read book Ocean Acidification written by Jean-Pierre Gattuso and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2011-09-15 with total page 347 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The ocean helps moderate climate change thanks to its considerable capacity to store CO2, through the combined actions of ocean physics, chemistry, and biology. This storage capacity limits the amount of human-released CO2 remaining in the atmosphere. As CO2 reacts with seawater, it generates dramatic changes in carbonate chemistry, including decreases in pH and carbonate ions and an increase in bicarbonate ions. The consequences of this overall process, known as "ocean acidification", are raising concerns for the biological, ecological, and biogeochemical health of the world's oceans, as well as for the potential societal implications. This research level text is the first to synthesize the very latest understanding of the consequences of ocean acidification, with the intention of informing both future research agendas and marine management policy. A prestigious list of authors has been assembled, among them the coordinators of major national and international projects on ocean acidification.

The Effects of Ocean Acidification, Elevated Temperature and Herbivory on Tropical Crustose Coralline Algae

Author : Maggie Dorothy Johnson
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 240 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (8 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Effects of Ocean Acidification, Elevated Temperature and Herbivory on Tropical Crustose Coralline Algae by : Maggie Dorothy Johnson

Download or read book The Effects of Ocean Acidification, Elevated Temperature and Herbivory on Tropical Crustose Coralline Algae written by Maggie Dorothy Johnson and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Guide to Best Practices for Ocean Acidification Research and Data Reporting

Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 264 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (21 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Guide to Best Practices for Ocean Acidification Research and Data Reporting by :

Download or read book Guide to Best Practices for Ocean Acidification Research and Data Reporting written by and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Tropical Crustose Coralline Algal Community and Individual Growth Responses to Light and Elevated PCO2

Author : Elizabeth A. Dutra
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 39 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (986 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Tropical Crustose Coralline Algal Community and Individual Growth Responses to Light and Elevated PCO2 by : Elizabeth A. Dutra

Download or read book Tropical Crustose Coralline Algal Community and Individual Growth Responses to Light and Elevated PCO2 written by Elizabeth A. Dutra and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 39 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Crustose coralline algae (CCA) are important reef stabilizers and their susceptibility to anthropogenic climate change and ocean acidification (OA) is of concern. Ocean acidification effects on benthic algal communities were determined by the response of CCA, fleshy macroalgae and microalgae to the interaction of pCO2 and light. I examined if elevated pCO2 and light influences CCA dominance by assessing their growth, recruitment and calcification. Elevated pCO2 under natural reef diurnal CO2 cycles did not significantly affect CCA percent cover, calcification rates or survival of adult CCA lobes. No significant community pCO2 effects were observed, rather light controlled dominance. The percent cover of microalgae increased in highlight, while CCA increased in the shade. My results indicate that algal response to irradiance is a more significant driver of reef benthic algal change than pCO2 levels predicted for 2100; however, this conclusion should be corroborated in longer-term and in field experiments.

Coral Reefs and Climate Change

Author : Jonathan Turnbull Phinney
Publisher : American Geophysical Union
ISBN 13 : 0875903592
Total Pages : 251 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (759 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Coral Reefs and Climate Change by : Jonathan Turnbull Phinney

Download or read book Coral Reefs and Climate Change written by Jonathan Turnbull Phinney and published by American Geophysical Union. This book was released on 2006-01-10 with total page 251 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Published by the American Geophysical Union as part of the Coastal and Estuarine Studies, Volume 61. The effects of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide and related climate change on shallow coral reefs are gaining considerable attention for scientific and economic reasons worldwide. Although increased scientific research has improved our understanding of the response of coral reefs to climate change, we still lack key information that can help guide reef management. Research and monitoring of coral reef ecosystems over the past few decades have documented two major threats related to increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO2: (1) increased sea surface temperatures and (2) increased seawater acidity (lower pH). Higher atmospheric CO2 levels have resulted in rising sea surface temperatures and proven to be an acute threat to corals and other reef-dwelling organisms. Short periods (days) of elevated sea surface temperatures by as little as 1–2°C above the normal maximum temperature has led to more frequent and more widespread episodes of coral bleaching-the expulsion of symbiotic algae. A more chronic consequence of increasing atmospheric CO2 is the lowering of pH of surface waters, which affects the rate at which corals and other reef organisms secrete and build their calcium carbonate skeletons. Average pH of the surface ocean has already decreased by an estimated 0.1 unit since preindustrial times, and will continue to decline in concert with rising atmospheric CO2. These climate-related Stressors combined with other direct anthropogenic assaults, such as overfishing and pollution, weaken reef organisms and increase their susceptibility to disease.