Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research

Seawater chemistry of CO2 system and nutrients as drivers of benthic community structure and carbon metabolism of coral reef ecosystems of different trophic status in the Caribbean

We will study the combined effects of ocean acidification and eutrophication on (1) net ecosystem calcification (NEC) of coral reef ecosystems of different trophic status in the Caribbean (Saba Bank, St Eustatius, Bonaire) and on (2) dissolution of CaCO3 and consequent bioerosion by common excavating sponges on these reef systems. 

Acidification and eutrophication

Ongoing ocean acidification reduces the ability of many marine calcifiers to produce CaCO3, while rates of bioerosion increase. Bioerosion may be further enhanced by the positive effect of eutrophication on growth of bioeroders that cause further loss of coral reef functioning. Transition from net accretion to net dissolution of CaCO3 in Caribbean coral reefs due to ocean acidification and eutrophication will have negative consequences for coral reef ecosystem services. We will quantify the impacts of ocean acidification and eutrophication on bio-erosion in field studies (subproject 1) in combination with experiments with coral excavating sponges (subproject 2).

 

Halisarca caerulea (photo: Fleur van Duijl)
 

Impact of bioeroding sponges

These results will be upscaled to reef-wide erosion estimates by mapping seawater chemistry (DIC, Alkalinity, pCO2, pH), nutrients, metabolic activity as well as benthic community composition over several coral reefs in oligotrophic versus eutrophic environments (subproject 1). Subproject 2 will target the physiological basis of CaCO3 dissolution by excavating sponges and assess in situ variations in bioerosion by grafting pieces of Iceland spar calcite and aragonite with these sponges and quantify dissolution under natural conditions. Overall this will allow a better understanding of Carbon metabolism of reef ecosystems and the role of bioeroding sponges in dissolution of CaCO3 in relation to ocean acidification and eutrophication.

Project information
Linked department:
Funder:
Netherlands Organization for S…
Duration:
1 Feb 2015 - 31 Dec 2018
Partner
  • Institute for Marine Resources & Ecosystem Studies (IMARES), The Netherlands

Meet the team

 
Reichart, Gert-Jan
Head of Scientific Department

Linked projects

Benthic-pelagic coupling on coral reefs of the Saba Bank and Saba
Supervisor
Fleur van Duyl
Funder
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research
Project duration
1 Jan 2014 - 1 Feb 2019
Rates and mechanisms of coral dissolution by bioeroding sponges
Supervisor
Lennart de Nooijer
Funder
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research
Project duration
1 Jan 2014 - 31 Jan 2019

Linked publications