The document summarizes a UK Ocean Acidification Research Programme that studied the effects of ocean acidification on marine ecology, biogeochemistry, and shellfish. It was a 4-year, £12M project involving 150 scientists from 23 institutions. The program found measurable increases in ocean acidity and decreases in carbonate ions due to rising atmospheric CO2 levels. Studies on shellfish showed their early life stages are more sensitive to acidification. However, adequate nutrition and selective breeding could make populations more tolerant. The research provided a baseline to assess future climate change projections and their economic impacts on UK aquaculture.

1. Ocean Acidification & Shellfish
Frances Hopkins1 & Ed Pope2
1Plymouth Marine Laboratory
2Swansea University
Shellfish Association of Great Britain Annual Conference
21 – 22 May 2013

2. Ocean acidification

3. UK Ocean Acidification Research Programme
 4-year £12M project, 2010 – 2014: NERC, Defra, DECC
 Aim: to undertake in-depth studies on the effects of OA on all aspects of marine
ecology, biogeochemistry and potential social and economic impacts.
 ~150 scientists from 23 UK universities and research institutions.
 Quantify, predict and communicate the impact of OA on commercially important
shellfish and finfish species.
 Knowledge exchange: to disseminate the research findings and engage with
stakeholders.
(www.oceanacidification.org.uk)

4. UK Ocean Acidification Research Programme
 4-year £12M project, 2010 – 2014: NERC, Defra, DECC
 Aim: to undertake in-depth studies on the effects of OA on all aspects of marine
ecology, biogeochemistry and potential social and economic impacts.
 ~150 scientists from 23 UK universities and research institutions.
 Quantify, predict and communicate the impact of OA on commercially important
shellfish and finfish species.
 Knowledge exchange: to disseminate the research findings and engage with
stakeholders.
(www.oceanacidification.org.uk)

5. UK Ocean Acidification Research Programme
 4-year £12M project, 2010 – 2014: NERC, Defra, DECC
 Aim: to undertake in-depth studies on the effects of OA on all aspects of marine
ecology, biogeochemistry and potential social and economic impacts.
 ~150 scientists from 23 UK universities and research institutions.
 Quantify, predict and communicate the impact of OA on commercially important
shellfish and finfish species.
 Knowledge exchange: to disseminate the research findings and engage with
stakeholders.
(www.oceanacidification.org.uk)

6. UK Ocean Acidification Research Programme
 4-year £12M project, 2010 – 2014: NERC, Defra, DECC
 Aim: to undertake in-depth studies on the effects of OA on all aspects of marine
ecology, biogeochemistry and potential social and economic impacts.
 ~150 scientists from 23 UK universities and research institutions.
 Quantify, predict and communicate the impact of OA on commercially important
shellfish and finfish species.
 Knowledge exchange: to disseminate the research findings and engage with
stakeholders.
(www.oceanacidification.org.uk)

7. UK Ocean Acidification Research Programme
 4-year £12M project, 2010 – 2014: NERC, Defra, DECC
 Aim: to undertake in-depth studies on the effects of OA on all aspects of marine
ecology, biogeochemistry and potential social and economic impacts.
 ~150 scientists from 23 UK universities and research institutions.
 Quantify, predict and communicate the impact of OA on commercially important
shellfish and finfish species.
 Knowledge exchange: to disseminate the research findings and engage with
stakeholders.
(www.oceanacidification.org.uk)

8. UK Ocean Acidification Research Programme
 4-year £12M project, 2010 – 2014: NERC, Defra, DECC
 Aim: to undertake in-depth studies on the effects of OA on all aspects of marine
ecology, biogeochemistry and potential social and economic impacts.
 ~150 scientists from 23 UK universities and research institutions.
 Quantify, predict and communicate the impact of OA on commercially important
shellfish and finfish species.
 Knowledge exchange: to disseminate the research findings and engage with
stakeholders.
(www.oceanacidification.org.uk)

9. CO2 emissions: relentless increase
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
10000
1800 1850 1900 1950 2000 2050
millionmetrictonsofcarbon
year
Total
Gas
Liquids
Solids
Cement production
Gas flaring
doi: 10.3334/CDIAC/00001_V2012

10. Atmospheric CO2
http://keelingcurve.ucsd.edu/

11. Luthi et al. (2008) Nature 453, 379 – 382
Tripati et al. (2009) Science 326, 1394 - 1397
Atmospheric CO2
Last time exceeded
400ppm:
3 – 5 million yrs ago
 9 May 2013
http://keelingcurve.ucsd.edu/

12. Oceans are a critical CO2 sink
Absorbed ~30% of human CO2 emissions

13. Ocean acidification is
measureable and quantifiable
From: Doney (2010) Science 328, 1512 - 15161988 - 2008

14. CO2 in the atmosphere
and the ocean
Ocean acidification is
measureable and quantifiable
From: Doney (2010) Science 328, 1512 - 15161988 - 2008

15. CO2 in the atmosphere
and the ocean
Ocean acidification is
measureable and quantifiable
Surface ocean pH
From: Doney (2010) Science 328, 1512 - 15161988 - 2008

16. The pH scale
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 140
“Ocean acidification”/ “Ocean carbonation”

17. The pH scale
Lemon
2.4
Battery
acid <1.0
Milk
6.5
Soap
9-10
Pure
water
7.0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 140
Bleach
12.5
“Ocean acidification”/ “Ocean carbonation”

18. The pH scale
Lemon
2.4
Battery
acid <1.0
Milk
6.5
Soap
9-10
Pure
water
7.0
Seawater
8.2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 140
Bleach
12.5
“Ocean acidification”/ “Ocean carbonation”

19. The pH scale
Lemon
2.4
Battery
acid <1.0
Milk
6.5
Soap
9-10
Pure
water
7.0
Ocean acidification
Pre-
industrial
8.2
Seawater
8.2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 140
Bleach
12.5
“Ocean acidification”/ “Ocean carbonation”

20. The pH scale
Lemon
2.4
Battery
acid <1.0
Milk
6.5
Soap
9-10
Pure
water
7.0
Ocean acidification
Pre-
industrial
8.2
Present-day
8.1
Seawater
8.2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 140
Bleach
12.5
30% increase
in acidity
“Ocean acidification”/ “Ocean carbonation”

21. The pH scale
Lemon
2.4
Battery
acid <1.0
Milk
6.5
Soap
9-10
Pure
water
7.0
Ocean acidification
Pre-
industrial
8.2
Present-day
8.1
Year 2100
7.8
Seawater
8.2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 140
Bleach
12.5
30% increase
in acidity
“Ocean acidification”/ “Ocean carbonation”
150% increase
in acidity

22. CO2 & ocean acidification
CO2(aq)
CO2 (g)
CO2 + H2O → H2CO3 ↔ HCO3
- + H+

23. CO2 & ocean acidification
CO2(aq)
CO2 (g)
Calcifying plankton
Calcifying animals
CO2 + H2O → H2CO3 ↔ HCO3
- + H+
CO3
2-
Ca2+

24. CO2 & ocean acidification
CO2(aq)
CO2 (g)
Calcifying plankton
Calcifying animals
CO2 + H2O → H2CO3 ↔ HCO3
- + H+
CO3
2-
CO3
2- + H+ ↔ HCO3
2-
Ca2+
Increasing CO2

25. CO2 & ocean acidification
CO2(aq)
CO2 (g)
Calcifying plankton
Calcifying animals
CO2 + H2O → H2CO3 ↔ HCO3
- + H+
CO3
2-
CO3
2- + H+ ↔ HCO3
2-
Ca2+
Increasing CO2

26. CO2 & ocean acidification
CO2(aq)
CO2 (g)
Calcifying plankton
Calcifying animals
CO2 + H2O → H2CO3 ↔ HCO3
- + H+
CO3
2-
CO3
2- + H+ ↔ HCO3
2-
1. Increase in H+ (decrease in pH)
2. Decrease in carbonate
Ca2+
Increasing CO2

27. Ocean acidification in the past and future
Turley et al. 2006;
Blackford & Gilbert 2007

28. Modelled: OA in UK waters
1980s
Yuri Artioli, PML
2080s

29. Ocean acidification effects on shellfish
Dr. Edward C. Pope
Dr. Rob Ellis

30. Ocean acidification effects on shellfish
Dr. Edward C. Pope
Dr. Rob Ellis

31. [CO2]ATMOSPHERE

32. [CO2]ATMOSPHERE [CO2]OCEAN

33. [CO2]ATMOSPHERE [CO2]OCEAN Ocean pH

34. [CO2]ATMOSPHERE [CO2]OCEAN Ocean pH [CO3
2-]OCEAN

35. [CO2]ATMOSPHERE [CO2]OCEAN Ocean pH [CO3
2-]OCEAN

36. What will be the impacts of Ocean
Acidication?

37. What will be the impacts of Ocean
Acidication?
“early life cycle stages of calcifying
organisms considered more sensitive to
environmental disturbances”
Raven, J. et al. (2005) Ocean acidification due to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide. The
Royal Society.

38. Confidence
Time

39. Confidence
Time
1990-2004

40. Thomsen, J. et al. (2010) Calcifying invertebrates succeed in a naturally CO2-rich
coastal habitat but are threatened by high levels of future acidification.
Biogeosciences 7 (11) 3879-3891.

41. Confidence
Time
1990-2004

42. Confidence
Time
2004-2010

43. Confidence
Time
2013

44. Confidence
“The field of ocean acidification is no longer in its infancy – we are teenagers now”
Sam du Pont
Time
2013

45. Kroeker et al. (2013) Impacts of ocean acidification on marine organisms: quantifying
sensitivities and interaction with warming. Global Change Biology 19, 1884–1896.

46. Kroeker et al. (2013) Impacts of ocean acidification on marine organisms: quantifying
sensitivities and interaction with warming. Global Change Biology 19, 1884–1896.

47. A case study – Pacific Northwest oyster
seed crisis

48. A case study – Pacific Northwest oyster
seed crisis
Since early 2000’s C. gigas recruitment
experienced failures along Oregon coast
Larval mortalities continuing to increase:
60 % in 2008, 80 % in 2009
Recent research (Barton et al. 2012) has linked
decline to ocean acidification

50. Whiskey Creek Shellfish Hatchery

51. Adequate diet might mitigate
negative impacts of environmental
stress
A case for optimism?

52. Pre-exposure of adults led to
more tolerant larvae
Adequate diet might mitigate
negative impacts of environmental
stress
A case for optimism?

53. Selectively bred
populations can be more
tolerant than wild
populations
Pre-exposure of adults led to
more tolerant larvae
Adequate diet might mitigate
negative impacts of environmental
stress
A case for optimism?

54. Industrial partnerships

55. Industrial partnerships

56. Involves 4 industrial partners from around UK
Industrial partnerships

57. Involves 4 industrial partners from around UK
Monitor seawater carbonate chemistry
monthly, over 12 month period
Industrial partnerships

58. Involves 4 industrial partners from around UK
Monitor seawater carbonate chemistry
monthly, over 12 month period
Samples are returned to laboratory to assess
carbonate chemistry
Industrial partnerships

59. Barton et al., (2012) The Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, shows negative correlation to naturally
elevated carbon dioxide levels: Implications for near-term ocean acidification effects. Limnology and
Oceanography 57 (3), 698-710.
Data provide a baseline against which future climate change projections can
be compared

60. Projected project outcomes
By combining the experimental data with national
carbonate chemistry data, we will gain a better
understanding of the likely scale and impact of OA
on UK aquaculture

61. ww.mccip.org.uk