Volcanic carbon dioxide vents show ecosystem effects of ocean acidification

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Ocean acidification may lead to a drop in seawater pH of up to 0.5 units by 2100.

“and may lead to a drop in seawater pH of up to 0.5 units by 2100 (refs 2, 3).”

• cites [2] Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Summary for Policymakers. In Climate Change 2007: The Physical Sciences Basis. Working Group I Contribution to the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC (eds Solomon, S. et al.) (Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, 2007)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites [3] Caldeira, K. & Wickett, M. E. Ocean model predictions of chemistry changes from carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere and ocean. J. Geophys. Res. 110 C09S04 doi: 10.1029/2004JC002671 (2005) sourceSupported

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Anthropogenic CO2 has caused a 30% increase in the concentration of H+ in ocean surface waters since the early 1900s.

“The oceans are a principal sink for anthropogenic CO 2 where it is estimated to have caused a 30% increase in the concentration of Hfoot_0 in ocean surface waters since the early 1900s”

• cites [2] Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Summary for Policymakers. In Climate Change 2007: The Physical Sciences Basis. Working Group I Contribution to the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC (eds Solomon, S. et al.) (Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, 2007)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites [3] Caldeira, K. & Wickett, M. E. Ocean model predictions of chemistry changes from carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere and ocean. J. Geophys. Res. 110 C09S04 doi: 10.1029/2004JC002671 (2005) sourcePartly supported

  The Introduction (§1) says added CO₂ lowers ocean pH, and Table 1 in Discussion and Conclusions (§5) gives a mean surface-ocean pH decrease of 0.09 from preindustrial conditions to 2000. That corresponds to roughly a 23% increase in H⁺ concentration, not the claimed 30%; the table also uses a preindustrial baseline rather than the early 1900s. (LLM, conf=0.86)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

High-latitude pteropods and coral reefs may be unable to make their skeletons by the year 2100.

“given that high-latitude pteropods and coral reefs may be unable to make their skeletons by the year 2100 (refs 7, 13).”

• cites [7] Orr, J. C. et al. Anthropogenic ocean acidification over the twenty-first century and its impact on calcifying organisms. Nature 437, 681–686 (2005) sourcePartly supported

  The Biological impacts section (p. 5) reports shell dissolution in live pteropods under conditions projected for 2100 and suggests that some high-latitude pteropods may be unable to maintain their shells. For reef-building corals, the paper reports declining calcification rates (p. 1), not that coral reefs may be unable to make skeletons by 2100. (LLM, conf=0.87)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
• cites [13] Davies, A. J., Roberts, J. M. & Hall-Spencer, J. Preserving deep-sea natural heritage: emerging issues in offshore conservation and management. Biol. Conserv. 138, 299–312 (2007) sourcePartly supported

  Section 2.1 (page unavailable) says organisms with calcium-carbonate skeletons face hindered growth in undersaturated water and projects that about 70% of known cold-water coral locations could become undersaturated by 2099. It does not say that coral reefs generally will be unable to make skeletons, and the searched passages do not address high-latitude pteropods. (LLM, conf=0.85)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Short-term laboratory experiments show that many calcareous organisms may be unable to build their skeletons as oceans acidify over the next 100 years.

“Short-term laboratory experiments show that many calcareous organisms may be unable to build their skeletons as oceans acidify over the next 100 years 6,7 .”

• cites [6] Feely, R. A. et al. Impact of anthropogenic CO2 on the CaCO3 system in the oceans. Science 305, 362–366 (2004) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites [7] Orr, J. C. et al. Anthropogenic ocean acidification over the twenty-first century and its impact on calcifying organisms. Nature 437, 681–686 (2005) sourcePartly supported

  The opening section (p. 1) says experimental evidence suggests corals and some plankton will have difficulty maintaining calcium-carbonate skeletons as ocean chemistry changes this century. Biological impacts (p. 5) reports shell dissolution in a 48-hour pteropod experiment and reduced calcification in other organisms. These passages support a risk to skeleton formation, but they do not show that many kinds of organisms may be unable to build skeletons altogether. (LLM, conf=0.86)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Increased ocean acidity may combine with other stresses, such as global warming, to drive tropical coral reefs towards functional collapse.

“This may combine with other stresses, such as global warming, to drive tropical coral reefs towards functional collapse 8 .”

• cites [8] Hoegh-Guldberg, O. et al. Coral reefs under rapid climate change and ocean acidification. Science 318, 1737–1742 (2007) sourceSupported

May combine two claims.

pH and saturation states (Ω) of calcite and aragonite varied with sea state, being lowest on calm days.

“The pH and saturation states (V) of calcite and aragonite varied with sea state, being lowest on calm days, and showed large decreases as p CO 2 amounts increased from approximately 300 to more than 2,000 matm through the venting gas fields (Fig. 2 and Supplementary Table 2).”

May combine two claims.

Sea urchins (Paracentrotus lividus, Arbacia lixula) were the most common large invertebrates on sublittoral rock outside the vents but their abundance was significantly reduced where pH reached minima of 7.4-7.5.

“Sea urchins (Paracentrotus lividus, Arbacia lixula), which have high magnesium calcite skeletons, were the most common large invertebrates on sublittoral rock outside the vents but their abundance was significantly reduced where pH reached minima of 7.4-7.5 (Table 1 and Fig. 2).”

May combine two claims.

Sea-grass leaves at P1 (pH 8.2) had 75% cover of calcified epiphytes but only 2% cover at P4 (mean pH 7.6) with a significant reduction in epiphytic calcium carbonate per leaf.

“Sea-grass leaves at P 1 (pH 8.2) had 75% cover of calcified epiphytes but only 2% cover at P 4 (mean pH 7.6) with a significant reduction in epiphytic calcium carbonate per leaf (Table 1 and Figs 3 and 4).”

The quote only partly states this claim.

Gastropod shells were dissolving due to periods of carbonate sub-saturation at mean pH 7.6.

“Sea-grass production was highest in an area at mean pH 7.6 (1,827 matm p CO 2 ) where coralline algal biomass was significantly reduced and gastropod shells were dissolving due to periods of”

May combine two claims.

Organisms with aragonite skeletons were common outside the vents but were absent at mean Ωarag ≤2.5 (minimum Ωarag 0.8-1.2).

“Organisms with aragonite skeletons were common outside the vents (for example, Halimeda algae and the corals Caryophyllia, Cladocora and Balanophyllia) but were absent at mean V arag # 2.5 (minimum V arag 0.8-1.2),providing in situ support for predictions of global coral reef dissolution at these concentrations 8 .”

May combine two claims.

As coralline algal cover fell from >60% outside the vent area to zero within it, non-calcareous algal cover increased significantly from near zero to >60%.

“As coralline algal cover fell from .60% outside the vent area to zero within it, non-calcareous algal cover increased significantly from near zero to .60% (Fig. 2 and Table 1).”

May combine two claims.

Shoot density was significantly higher at mean pH 7.6 and approximately 30% higher than that known anywhere else around Ischia.

“where shoot density was significantly higher (Table 1 and Fig. 3) and approximately 30% higher than that known anywhere else around Ischia 12 .”

• cites [12] Ambiente. Marino Costiero e Territorio Delle Isole Flegree (eds Gambi, M. C., Lauro, M. & Jannuzzi, F.) (Accademia di Scienze Fische e Matematiche, Italy, 2003)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Other calcitic organisms, such as the barnacle Chthamalus stellatus, may survive pH minima by closing their rostral plates as their abundance was not significantly reduced until extremely low mean pH 6.6.

“Other calcitic organisms, such as the barnacle Chthamalus stellatus, for example, may survive pH minima by closing their rostral plates as their abundance was not significantly reduced until extremely low mean pH 6.6 (Table 1 and Fig. 2).”

May combine two claims.

When heavily epiphytised leaves were transplanted from station P1 to P4 they showed complete dissolution of Corallinaceae in 2 weeks, whereas transplants moved within P1 were unaffected.

“When heavily epiphytised leaves were transplanted from station P 1 to P 4 they showed complete dissolution of Corallinaceae in 2 weeks, whereas transplants moved within P 1 were unaffected.”

May combine two claims.

Along gradients of normal pH (8.1-8.2) to lowered pH (mean 7.8-7.9, minimum 7.4-7.5), typical rocky shore communities with abundant calcareous organisms shifted to communities lacking scleractinian corals with significant reductions in sea urchin and coralline algal abundance.

“Along gradients of normal pH (8.1-8.2) to lowered pH (mean 7.8-7.9,minimum 7.4-7.5),typical rocky shore communities with abundant calcareous organisms shifted to communities lacking scleractinian corals with significant reductions in sea urchin and coralline algal abundance.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Atmospheric partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) will almost certainly be double that of pre-industrial levels by 2100 and will be considerably higher than at any time during the past few million years.

“The atmospheric partial pressure of carbon dioxide (p CO 2 ) will almost certainly be double that of pre-industrial levels by 2100 and will be considerably higher than at any time during the past few million years 1 .”

• cites [1] Pearson, P. N. & Palmer, M. R. Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations over the past 60 million years. Nature 406, 695–699 (2000) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

Some marine CO2 vents are at ambient seawater temperature and lack toxic sulphur compounds.

“Some marine CO 2 vents are at ambient seawater temperature and lack toxic sulphur compounds; such vents can prevail for years to millenia 12 and may be used as natural experiments to advance our understanding of ocean acidification at the ecosystem level.”

• cites [12] Ambiente. Marino Costiero e Territorio Delle Isole Flegree (eds Gambi, M. C., Lauro, M. & Jannuzzi, F.) (Accademia di Scienze Fische e Matematiche, Italy, 2003)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Mesocosm experiments have led to predictions that Corallinaceae are vulnerable to ocean acidification due to the solubility of their high magnesium calcite skeletons.

“Mesocosm experiments have led to predictions that Corallinaceae, which help to protect against coral reef erosion in the tropics, are vulnerable to ocean acidification due to the solubility of their high magnesium calcite skeletons 15,16 .”

• cites [15] Kleypas, J. A. et al. Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reefs and Other Marine Calcifiers: A Guide for Future Research. Report of a workshop held 18–20 April 2005, St. Petersburg, FL, sponsored by NSF, NOAA, and the US Geological Survey. (2006)Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

• cites [16] Kuffner, I. B. et al. Decreased abundance of crustose coralline algae due to ocean acidification. Nature Geosci 1, 114–117 (2008) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Anemonia viridis may benefit from increased pCO2 for photosynthesis of its endosymbiotic dinoflagellates.

“The only Cnidaria in waters undersaturated with aragonite were anemones such as Anemonia viridis, which may benefit from increased p CO 2 for photosynthesis of its endosymbiotic dinoflagellates.”

May combine two claims.

Marine CO2 vents at ambient seawater temperature and lacking toxic sulphur compounds can prevail for years to millennia.

“Some marine CO 2 vents are at ambient seawater temperature and lack toxic sulphur compounds; such vents can prevail for years to millenia 12 and may be used as natural experiments to advance our understanding of ocean acidification at the ecosystem level.”

• cites [12] Ambiente. Marino Costiero e Territorio Delle Isole Flegree (eds Gambi, M. C., Lauro, M. & Jannuzzi, F.) (Accademia di Scienze Fische e Matematiche, Italy, 2003)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Some of the resilient algal genera include invasive alien species that have begun to alter shallow marine ecosystems worldwide.

“A suite of algal genera proved to be resilient to naturally high amounts of p CO 2 (for example, Caulerpa, Cladophora, Asparagopsis, Dictyota and Sargassum), some of which include invasive alien species that have begun to alter shallow marine ecosystems worldwide 17 .”

• cites [17] Boudouresque, C. F. & Verlaque, M. Biological pollution in the Meditterranean Sea: invasive versus introduced macrophytes. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 44, 32–38 (2002) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Marine CO2 vents typically eject volcanic fluids containing up to 1-2% hydrogen sulphide.

“Marine CO 2 vents are abundant in the Mediterranean, especially around Italy and Greece where they typically eject volcanic fluids containing up to 1-2% hydrogen sulphide 10,11 .”

• cites [10] Williams, S. N., Schaefer, S. J., Calvache v, M. L & Lopez, D. Global carbon dioxide emission to the atmosphere by volcanoes. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 56, 1765–1770 (1992) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites [11] Dando, P. R., Stuben, D. & Varnavas, S. P. Hydrothermalism in the Mediterranean Sea. Prog. Oceanogr. 44, 333–367 (1999) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Mesocosm experiments have shown that sea-grass production can be enhanced at high pCO2.

“Mesocosm experiments have shown that sea-grass production can be enhanced at high p CO 2 (ref.19).”

• cites [19] Palacios, S. L. & Zimmerman, R. C. Response of eelgrass Zostera marina to CO2 enrichment: possible impacts of climate change and potential for remediation of coastal habitats. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 344, 1–13 (2007) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

Although scleractinians can survive skeletal dissolution as polyps in the laboratory, reduced calcification due to low Ωarag may result in increased risk to predation or competition in open ecosystems.

“Although scleractinians can survive skeletal dissolution as polyps in the laboratory 14 , reduced calcification due to low V arag may result in increased risk to predation or competition in open ecosystems.”

• cites [14] Fine, M. & Tchernov, D. Scleractinian coral species survive and recover from decalcification. Science 315, 1811 (2007) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Natural CO2 flux from volcanic vents and high heat flow areas amounts to less than 0.5% of anthropogenic emissions to the global carbon budget.

“Natural CO 2 flux from volcanic vents and high heat flow areas amounts to less than 0.5% of anthropogenic emissions to the global carbon budget, but can alter local ocean chemistry 9,10 .”

• cites [9] Kerrick, D. M., McKibben, M. A., Seward, T. M. & Caldeira, K. Convective hydrothermal CO2 emission from high heat-flow regions. Chem. Geol. 121, 285–293 (1995) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites [10] Williams, S. N., Schaefer, S. J., Calvache v, M. L & Lopez, D. Global carbon dioxide emission to the atmosphere by volcanoes. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 56, 1765–1770 (1992) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

Although atmospheric diffusion of CO2 is not predicted to result in aragonite undersaturation in shallow waters of the Mediterranean, observations of such areas are relevant to localized effects caused by deliberate CO2 sequestration and to widespread effects predicted for areas that at present have low Ωarag.

“Although atmospheric diffusion of CO 2 is not predicted to result in aragonite undersaturation in shallow waters of the Mediterranean, observations of such areas are relevant to the localized effects caused by deliberate CO 2 sequestration and to the widespread effects predicted for areas that at present have low V arag , given that high-latitude pteropods and coral reefs may be unable to make”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

The analysed Posidonia oceanica shoots were >10 yr old at the subtidal study sites and will have integrated the effects of lowered pH over this time.

“The analysed Posidonia oceanica shoots were .10yr old at the subtidal study sites and will have integrated the effects of lowered pH over this time.”

May combine two claims.

Salinity (38%) and total alkalinity (2.5 mequiv.kg−1) were homogeneous between survey stations and temperature-matched ambient seasonal fluctuations (13-25 °C).

“Salinity (38%) and total alkalinity (2.5 mequiv.kg 21 ) were homogeneous between survey stations and temperature-matched ambient seasonal fluctuations (13-25 uC).”

May combine two claims.

Ocean acidification will probably bring about reductions in biodiversity and radically alter ecosystems.

“as ocean acidification will probably bring about reductions in biodiversity and radically alter ecosystems.”

May combine two claims.

This opportunity to observe the tipping points at which principal groups of marine organisms are affected by lowered pH proves that, even without global warming, the projected rise in atmospheric CO2 concentration is hazardous.

“This opportunity to observe the tipping points at which principal groups of marine organisms are affected by lowered pH proves that, even without global warming, the projected rise in atmospheric CO 2 concentration is hazardous, as ocean acidification will probably”