We argue that this focus overlooks the important
role of ocean acidification as a resource, which can enhance the productivity of algae known to influence the status of kelp forests and coral reefs (i.e. mat - forming algae or mats).
Mathis, J. T., J. N. Cross, and N. R. Bates, 2011:
The role of ocean acidification in systemic carbonate mineral suppression in the Bering Sea.
Not exact matches
«We know that past
acidification events played a
role in mass extinctions, when lots
of animals and plants disappeared from the
ocean,» Gattuso says.
Pandolfi and colleagues review the threats posed to coral reefs by increased
ocean heat content and
acidification and point to the
role of evolution in buffering populations.
The team analyzed little studied factors that play a
role in
ocean acidification (OA)-- changes in water chemistry that threaten the ability
of shellfish such as oysters, clams and scallops to create and maintain their shells, among other impacts.
New research, led by the University
of Southampton, has questioned the
role played by
ocean acidification, produced by the asteroid impact that killed the dinosaurs, in the extinction
of ammonites and other planktonic calcifiers 66 million years ago.
Regarding the possible
role hydrogen sulfide in the major extinctions you might want to check out another book, one which places it in the context
of the methane clathrate gun, the destruction
of the coccolithophores which help to maintain an oxygenated atmosphere by
ocean acidification, the
role of algae blooms, etc...
There is concern that elevated sea temperatures and
ocean acidification may influence the resilience
of coral reefs, inherently affecting their vital
role of providing the structure which maintains ecosystem services around the world.
There are other factors (changes in the natural sources
of emissions in a warmed environment, changes in the function
of traditional carbon sinks in a warmed environment, tipping points like increase forest fire activity in a warmed environment, etc.) that also play a significant
role in the truly important number, which is accumulation
of CO2 / e in the atmosphere and
ocean acidification.
Here, starting at about 2:45, Feely describes to a European reporter
ocean acidification's
role in the deaths
of oysters in the Pacific Northwest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUG21s-6sFs.
Incidentally, these kinds
of dynamic processes also play
roles in
ocean acidification.
The
acidification of oceans may well be the most insidious and pervasive threat to life in the
oceans everywhere, simply because so many different plants and animals that play key
roles in ecosystems will likely be affected — coccolithophores, pteropods, corals, mollusks (clams, mussels, oysters, snails), echinoderms (urchins, seastars), arthropods (lobsters, crabs, shrimp), etc., etc..
I believe the strong
role of anthropogenic contributions to climate change with potentially significant adverse impacts (global warming and
ocean acidification) is well documented by a large array
of independent evidence.