Effect of Ocean Acidification on Tropical

Marine Ecosystems Biodiversity due to

Global Climate Change

Dérilus Dieunel

Noelia Aponte

Rohit Sharma

Yamilis Ocasio

Background and Project Relevance

Introduction

The recent increase in greenhouse gasses due to

human activities is the main cause for global climate

change.

The rise of ocean acidification due to climate change

could have significant effects in tropical marine

ecosystems biodiversity.

The slow growth and adaptation of organisms in

some marine ecosystems makes them vulnerable to

the impacts of climate change.

Background and Project Relevance

Problem

There is a need to describe the effects of

ocean acidification due to climate change

over the biodiversity of major tropical

marine ecosystems that offer diverse

economic and ecological values.

Project Description

Hypothesis

The effect of ocean acidification due to

climate change on the biodiversity of major

tropical marine ecosystems would be

detriment. We expect less species richness and

diversity. The loss of biodiversity is expected

to affect the economic and ecological

services.

Project Description

Main Goal

Determine and describe in detail the

effects that different concentrations of

ocean acidity could have over the

biodiversity of three major tropical marine

ecosystems to understand how it is

affected by climate change.

Project Description

Objectives

Laboratory scale

Create three tropical marine ecosystems: coral reefs,

mangroves and sea grasses.

Describe the effect of each level of acidity in the

richness and biodiversity of three tropical marine

ecosystems.

Global scale overview

Detail description of anthropogenic activities on

tropical marine ecosystems that could potentially

increase ocean acidification.

Methodology

Grow

• Ecosystems: Coral Reef, Mangrove, Sea Grass

• Three tanks per ecosystem

Acidify

• Three levels of acidification, including control with no acidification.

Evaluate

• Biodiversity and richness

• General characteristics

Methodology

Laboratory scale

Construct three different ecosystems at an open

laboratory facility

Use historical data to obtain average environment

conditions for each tropical marine ecosystem: coral

reefs, mangroves and sea grasses.

Grow field proportional biodiversity in each pool for

each tropical marine ecosystem: coral reefs, mangroves

and sea grasses.

Methodology

Coral Reef Ecosystem (Materials)

60 gallon acrylic saltwater fish tank

Sand substrate

Coral reef samples

Methodology

Coral Reef Ecosystem (Procedure)

Add 6 inches of sand at the bottom of tank.

Add saltwater to the tank so that the water

covers the sand by a few inches.

Put the coral reef samples in the tank.

Methodology

Coral Reef Ecosystem (Biodiversity)

Jelly fish

Mollusks

Copepod

Sea urchin

Dogfish

Red sea bream

Methodology

Mangrove Ecosystem (Red Mangroves)

Inhabit shallow saltwater areas, swamps and

lagoons.

In aquariums, the trees stay small but

contain many of the same characteristics as

the larger versions found in nature.

The root system provide filtration and a

habitat for small organisms that may grow

within the aquarium.

Methodology

Mangrove Ecosystem (Materials)

60 gallon acrylic saltwater fish tank

Sand substrate

Red mangrove seed pods

Slender PVC pipes or rigid airline tubes

Grow light or daylight spectrum light

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Methodology

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Mangrove Ecosystem (Procedure)

Add 6 inches of sand at the bottom of tank.

Add saltwater to the tank so that the water covers the

sand by a few inches.

Use gardener's tape to attach one to five seed pods to

small diameter PVC pipes.

Stick the PVC pipes with the seed pods into the sand

in the tank.

Remove the PVC pipe from the plants once the roots

begin to grow.

This process could take a few months.

Methodology

Mangrove Ecosystem (Biodiversity)

Shrimp

Mangrove crabs

Sponge

Oyster

Mud lobster

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Methodology

Sea Grass Ecosystem

Approximately 50 species of sea grass

worldwide, seven reported for Puerto Rico

(Vicente,1992).

The most common species for Puerto

Rico are S. filiforme, T. testudinum and H.

beaudettei.

Methodology

Sea Grass Ecosystem (Materials)

60 gallon acrylic saltwater fish tank

Sand substrate

Seagrass seeds

Biodegradable tape

Methodology

Sea Grass Ecosystem (Procedure)

Add 6 inches of sand at the bottom of tank.

Add saltwater to the tank so that the water

covers the sand by a few inches.

Spread the sea grass seeds into the sand.

Allow to grow and add nutrients if needed.

Methodology

Sea Grass Ecosystem (Biodiversity)

Rough scallop

Snapping shrimp

Common atlantic slipper snail

Gray seastar

Green sea cucumber

Methodology

Laboratory equipment

LabQuest Environmental Science Deluxe Package

Include: pH sensor, temperature probe, conductivity

probe, dissolved oxygen sensor, turbidity sensor, CO2

gas sensor, light sensor

Manufacturer: Vernier

Deluxe Koralia Wavemaker Controller and Koralia Nano

Controllable Pump

Description: wave generator

Manufacturer: Hydor Koralia

Methodology

Data collector and analysis

Powershot D10 Digital Camera

Description: waterproof, dustproof, shock resistant

Manufacturer: Canon

iMac

Description: 27in, 4GB, 1TB hard drive, 3 MG Intel Core processor

Manufacturer: Apple

SAS System Software

Methodology

Acidification Levels

Level A – Control tank – Cero acidification

Level B – pH 7.91

Level C – pH 7.76

Addition of sulfuric acid in different

concentrations to the pools to reach the different

ocean acidity concentration to be studied.

Methodology

Global scale overview

Evaluate historical data of current anthropogenic

activities and ocean acidification effects on tropical

marine ecosystems: coral reefs, mangroves and sea

grasses.

Develop future expectations for the rise in ocean

acidification levels and significant consequences on

tropical marine ecosystems: coral reefs, mangroves and

sea grasses.

Facilities

Greenhouses

Agricultural Experiment Station

South Botanical Garden

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Anticipated Benefits

Global Impact

Create awareness of the impacts of global climate

change in coastal areas and tropical marine

ecosystems.

Promote coral reef, mangrove and sea grass

conservation and restoration plans.

Anticipated Benefits

Community Activities

Organize educational workshops, symposiums and lectures

design to address scientists, students and the community to

inform about the impacts of global climate change.

Create a committee including scientists, students,

volunteers and community members to evaluate, propose

and apply preventive actions against climate change

impacts in coastal areas.

Project Leadership and Personnel

Principal Investigator - Loretta Roberson, Ph.D.

Co-Principal Investigators

Yamilis Ocasio, M.S.

Rohit Sharma, M.S.

Noelia Aponte, B.S.

Dérilus Dieunel, B.S.

Assistants

Francisco Soto

Luis Villanueva

Budget Justification

First Year

Travel expenses – boat gas and maintenance, meals

Grow expenses – 60 gal tanks, samples, seeds, fishes,

nutrients, light sensors

Laboratory equipment – analytical instruments for

chemical analysis, wave generator, digital cameras

Chemical substances and fish food

Data equipment – computer

Assistants salary

Indirect costs

Budget Justification

2nd to 5th Year

Assistants salary

Fish food

Publication costs – Research Notes

Indirect costs

Budget Justification

5th to 10th Year

Assistants salary

Fish food

Workshop and symposium, per year

Committee

Publication costs

Indirect costs