A changing climate for calcification on the Great Barrier Reef: past, present and future. The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is a national and international icon, recognised through its inscription as a World Heritage Area and economic and social value to Australians. Maintenance of the GBR as we know it is now compromised by a rapidly changing climate. Ocean acidification, warming water temperatures and increased freshwater will progressively be detrimental to the fundamental reef-building process ....A changing climate for calcification on the Great Barrier Reef: past, present and future. The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is a national and international icon, recognised through its inscription as a World Heritage Area and economic and social value to Australians. Maintenance of the GBR as we know it is now compromised by a rapidly changing climate. Ocean acidification, warming water temperatures and increased freshwater will progressively be detrimental to the fundamental reef-building process of calcification. Informed policy and management strategies in a rapidly changing physical environment require determination, for short and long time frames, of the regional consequences and impacts of changing reef-building capacity.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989608
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$190,000.00
Summary
The Heron Island Climate Change Observatory: An In-Situ Ocean Acidification and Carbonate Chemistry Monitoring Platform. Climate change and ocean acidification are widely recognized as key threats to Australia's natural ecosystems, yet we are currently ill-equipped to respond due to poor knowledge of the scale/nature of the impacts. The Heron Island Climate Change Observatory will establish key infrastructure that will rapidly improve our understanding of the impacts of ocean acidification whic ....The Heron Island Climate Change Observatory: An In-Situ Ocean Acidification and Carbonate Chemistry Monitoring Platform. Climate change and ocean acidification are widely recognized as key threats to Australia's natural ecosystems, yet we are currently ill-equipped to respond due to poor knowledge of the scale/nature of the impacts. The Heron Island Climate Change Observatory will establish key infrastructure that will rapidly improve our understanding of the impacts of ocean acidification which is important to local communities and the nation given that coral reefs support over $6 billion in revenue (and employ 60,000 people) each year. This critically important information is essential to the management and protection of Australia's coral reefs, including the Great Barrier Reef.
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The impact of ocean acidification on the fertilization, larval development and recruitment of key Australian marine organisms. This work will define the potential vulnerability for Australian marine ecosystems that arises from the rapid acidification of Australia's coastal environments by rising atmospheric carbon dioxide. Our preliminary data suggest that the early life history stages of a wide range of marine species are very sensitive to the impact of ocean acidification. At present, almost ....The impact of ocean acidification on the fertilization, larval development and recruitment of key Australian marine organisms. This work will define the potential vulnerability for Australian marine ecosystems that arises from the rapid acidification of Australia's coastal environments by rising atmospheric carbon dioxide. Our preliminary data suggest that the early life history stages of a wide range of marine species are very sensitive to the impact of ocean acidification. At present, almost nothing is known about the impacts and implications of these changes. Without this knowledge, however, we are in a poor position as a nation to respond and adapt to these changes. We plan to explore this vulnerability for Australian marine organisms and develop a detailed understanding of its implications for Australia's marine ecosystems and associated industries. Read moreRead less