Will Coral Reefs Survive Acidification?

Nestled among the beautiful coral reefs of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a place that could provide the key to our understanding of one of the biggest threats to coral reef survival: Ocean Acidification. Here cool carbon dioxide naturally bubbles out of volcanic cracks in the shallow sea floor and makes the surrounding waters more acidic. This place gives us a glimpse into the future as absorbed atmospheric CO2 makes the ocean more acidic. Smithsonian scientist, Laetitia Plaisance, uses this unique place to study what will happen to corals and coral reefs if the ocean gets more acidic. Read the full blog post from Dr. Plaisance to learn more about acidification and these amazing CO2 seeps.

Tags: 
Corals, Biodiversity, Smithsonian scientists

Carbon Dioxide Volcanic Seep

Intense volcanic CO2 vents in Ili Ili Bua Bua, Normanby Island, Papua New Guinea where CO2 bubbles out of the reef making water acidic as we would expect to see in the future.

Credit: Laetitia Plaisance

MV Chertain Lab Boat

For three weeks, the MV Chertan is home-base for the scientific team and will be transformed in a laboratory to study the effect of the CO2 seeps on reefs.

Credit: Laetitia Plaisance

A Healthy Coral Reef

A healthy coral reef far away from CO2 seeps where the pH is still unaffected.

Credit:

Laetitia Plaisance

Monoculture of Boulder Corals

But closer to the CO2 seeps, the complex reef has been replaced by a “monoculture” of boulder corals.

Credit: Laetitia Plaisance

Fragile Branching Corals in Acidic Water

Branching corals, because of their more fragile structure, struggle to live in acidified waters around natural carbon dioxide seeps, a model for a more acidic future ocean.

Credit: Laetitia Plaisance

Lonely Seagrass in Acidic Waters

Where the pH is the lowest, corals can no longer grow - sand, rubble and seagrasses replace the reef.

Credit: Laetitia Plaisance

Dissolving Shell

The acidic waters from the CO2 seeps can dissolve shells and also make it harder for shells to grow in the first place.

Credit: Laetitia Plaisance

Dissolving Coral Skeleton in Acidic Waters

Acidic waters are also able to completely dissolve coral skeletons.

Credit: Laetitia Plaisance

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