Baggini, C.

CO2 and inorganic nutrient enrichment affect the performance of a calcifying green alga and its noncalcifying epiphyte

Abstract Ocean acidification studies in the past decade have greatly improved our knowledge of how calcifying organisms respond to increased surface ocean CO2 levels. It has become evident that, for many organisms, nutri- ent availability is an important factor that influences their physiological responses and competitive interactions with other species. Therefore, we tested how simulated ocean acidification and eutrophication (nitrate and phosphate enrichment) interact to affect the physiology and ecology of a calcifying chlorophyte macroalga (Halimeda opuntia(L.) J.V. Lamouroux) and its common noncalcifying epi- phyte (Dictyota sp.) in a 4-week fully crossed multifacto- rial experiment. Inorganic nutrient enrichment (+NP) had a strong influence on all responses measured with the excep- tion of net calcification. Elevated CO2 alone significantly decreased electron transport rates of the photosynthetic apparatus and resulted in phosphorus limitation in both spe- cies, but had no effect on oxygen production or respiration. The combination of CO2 and +NP significantly increased electron transport rates in both species. While +NP alone stimulated H. opuntia growth rates, Dictyota growth was significantly stimulated by nutrient enrichment only at elevated CO2, which led to the highest biomass ratios of Dictyota to Halimeda. Our results suggest that inorganic nutrient enrichment alone stimulates several aspects of H. opuntia physiology, but nutrient enrichment at a CO2 con- centration predicted for the end of the century benefits Dic- tyota sp. and hinders its calcifying basibiont H. opuntia.  

Date
2015
Data type
Scientific article
Theme
Research and monitoring
Journal
Geographic location
Curacao