Dolomite-rich coralline algae in reefs resist dissolution in acidified conditions

• Published in: Nature climate change Vol. 3; no. 3; pp. 268 - 272
• Main Authors: NASH, M. C, OPDYKE, B. N, KLINE, D. I, TROITZSCH, U, RUSSELL, B. D, ADEY, W. H, KATO, A, DIAZ-PULIDO, G, BRENT, C, GARDNER, M, PRICHARD, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group 01.03.2013
• Subjects: Acidification; Algae; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Calcite; Carbon dioxide; Climatology. Bioclimatology. Climate change; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Coral reef ecosystems; Coral reefs; Dolomite; Earth, ocean, space; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates; Environmental degradation: ecosystems survey and restoration; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; High flow; Meteorology; Ocean acidification; Porolithon; Porosity; Wave energy; Rhodophyta; Dolomite; Algae; Acidification; Coral reef; Survival; Symbiont; Dynamical climatology; Marine environment; Climate change; Coelenterata; Sensitivity resistance; Cnidaria; Invertebrata

Coral reef ecosystems develop best in high-flow environments but their fragile frameworks are also vulnerable to high wave energy. Wave-resistant algal rims, predominantly made up of the crustose coralline algae (CCA) Porolithon onkodes and P. pachydermum, are therefore critical structural elements...