Department of Biotechnology

Submitted to:
Dr.Naila Safdar

Topic:
Ocean Acidification and its impact on Marine
Calcifying Organisms
Presented by:
Fatima Saleem
2019-Mphilbiotechnology-002
 What is ocean acidification?
A reduction in ocean pH due to the uptake of anthropogenic Co2.

Land absorbed 31%, ocean 26%, with 44% remaining in the atmosphere.

Ocean Acidification is a term used to describe the change in

chemistry of the Earth’s Ocean i.e. ongoing decrease in pH
and increase in acidity, caused by the anthropogenic CO2
uptake (Melzner et al., 2020).
 BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES AFFECTED BY OCEAN ACIDIFICATION

• Increasing acidity, combined with other environmental stressors like increasing ocean temperature
and pollution, has the potential to affect many biological processes (Fabricius et al., 2017).

– Building shells
– Maintaining metabolism ii). Maintaining metabolism
– Boosting photosynthesis
– Obtaining essential minerals & nutrients • Many physiological processes operate within a
narrow pH range; outside of that range,
biochemical reactions may be too slow or
inefficient to keep the organism healthy.

• Species can adjust to changes in their

i). Building Shells
surroundings by actively maintaining a constant
Many animals and some algae use carbonate ions to internal environment, this maintenance requires
a significant expenditure of energy.
make calcium carbonate shells and skeletons.
• Ocean acidification CO3 2
• Organisms work harder to produce shells.
 Boosting photosynthesis

 Carbon dioxide can stimulate plant growth by

boosting the rate of photosynthesis.
 Growth of sea-grasses under elevated carbon
dioxide conditions.
 Sea-grasses provide valuable habitat, but if these
plants overgrow reduce the ecosystem’s
biodiversity.

Obtaining Essential Minerals and Nutrients

• Ocean acidification could make it harder for

marine organisms to absorb nitrogen, phosphorus,
iron, and other elements essential for growth.
• For example, when seawater becomes more
acidic, iron attaches to organic compounds,
preventing marine life from using this essential
element (Foster et al., 2016).
 s are Organisms combine calcium and carbonate to
clam ocean form hard shells and skeletons. Therefore, the
t
g ian by va ted plants and animals that use calcium carbonate
t l e
e h in
tha ened t for structure and protection are
e d ea t o w t
s how thr since nd gr gi an called calcifying organisms.
d y ly l a uted
Stu itional n, v a
d d a t i o s u rvi fl
a ific uced the sa.  EFFECTS ON SHELLFISH, CORALS, AND OTHER
c i d o
a  red of uam CALCIFIERS •
CO iles 2 sq
v e n d acna
ju
m  Tri • Calcifiers organisms with shells or skeletons made from
c l a
n L ife calcium carbonate are among the most abundant forms of
c e a
r a b le O marine life.
e
Vuln s • Ocean acidification decreases the availability of carbonate
m
•Cla ers ions.
s t
•Oy lops • Dissolving pteropod shells.
l
•Sca sels • Neurological effects (Shi et al., 2019).
u s
•M
o r als
• C ish • Coralline algae are among the most vulnerable calcifying species to an
t a r f n s
• S i
rch flies
a u acidifying ocean. The ecological consequences of coralline algae decline are
• S e e r
a b utt e likely to be high, as they play key roles in many marine ecosystems."
•Se d s ) l g a
t er opo ming a
(p l-for as • Researchers found that coralline algae act as a "nursery" for other species,
e l
•Sh moeb
a providing habitat for a diverse assemblage of animals and seaweeds (Osborn
and
et al., 2016).
 Effects on Larvae

 Many marine fish and invertebrates have complex life

cycles. They spend their early lives as larvae.

 For example, sea urchin and oyster larvae will not

develop properly when acidity is increased. In another
example, fish larvae lose their ability to smell and avoid
predators. The vulnerability of larvae means that while
organisms may be able to reproduce, their offspring may
not reach adulthood (Pechenik et al., 2019).

 Under increasing acidity

animals like this sea urchin
must spend more energy to
build and maintain shells, which
could impair overall health.
Bednaršek et al., 2019
 Effects of Ocean and Coastal Acidification on Ecosystems

Ocean and coastal acidification may not just affect life underwater, but ultimately all of us. 

i). Food Webs ii). Ecosystems

Underwater ecosystems like this

If acidification reduces the coral reef host abundant and
populations of small animals diverse life that is linked
like clams, oysters, and sea through complex biological
urchins, the larger animals relationships. Harm to the coral
like fish that feed upon those Wild caught seafood is an
example of an ecosystem or other animals from
could run short of food, and acidification could have ripple
so on up the food chain.   service that supports a
multi-billion dollar industry effects on the entire ecosystem.
in the multiple States.  
 Ecosystem Services Traditional Tribal Fisheries

Consumers will likely bear some of the costs of Economists predict that unchecked acidification could
environmental impacts from acidification. decrease shellfish harvests and increase consumer prices.  

Spenser et al., 2019

(Speers et al., 2016)
Allemand et al., 2019.
 Reference
• Allemand, D., & Osborn, D. (2019). Ocean acidification impacts on coral reefs: From sciences to solutions. Regional Studies in Marine
Science, 28, 100558.
• Bednaršek, N., Feely, R. A., Howes, E. L., Hunt, B. P., Kessouri, F., León, P., ... & Sutula, M. (2019). Systematic Review and Meta-
Analysis Toward Synthesis of Thresholds of Ocean Acidification Impacts on Calcifying Pteropods and Interactions With Warming.
Frontiers in Marine Science, 6, 227.
• Fabricius, K. E., Kroeker, K. J., Anderson, K. M., Brown, N. E., Barry, J. P., ... & Klinger, T. (2017). Ocean acidification can mediate
biodiversity shifts by changing biogenic habitat. Nature Climate Change, 7(1), 81-85.
• Foster, T., Falter, J. L., McCulloch, M. T., & Clode, P. L. (2016). Ocean acidification causes structural deformities in juvenile coral
skeletons. Science advances, 2(2), e1501130.
• Hall-Spencer, J. M., & Harvey, B. P. (2019). Ocean acidification impacts on coastal ecosystem services due to
habitat degradation. Emerging Topics in Life Sciences, 3(2), 197-206.
• Melzner, F., Mark, F. C., Seibel, B. A., & Tomanek, L. (2020). Ocean acidification and coastal marine invertebrates: tracking CO2 effects
from seawater to the cell. Annual Review of Marine Science, 12, 499-523.
• Osborn, D., Dupont, S., Hansson, L., & Metian, M. (2017). Ocean acidification: Impacts and governance. In Handbook on the
economics and management of sustainable oceans. Edward Elgar Publishing.
• Pechenik, J. A., Pires, A., Trudel, J., Levy, M., Dooley, T., Resnikoff, A., & Taylor, R. E. (2019). Impact of ocean acidification on growth,
onset of competence, and perception of cues for metamorphosis in larvae of the slippershell snail, Crepidula fornicata. Marine Biology,
166(10), 128.
• Speers, A. E., Besedin, E. Y., Palardy, J. E., & Moore, C. (2016). Impacts of climate change and ocean acidification on coral reef
fisheries: an integrated ecological–economic model. Ecological economics, 128, 33-43.
CASE STUDIES ON OCEAN
ACIDIFICATION AND IT’S
EFFECTS ON MARINE
CALCIFYING ORGANISMS
Submitting To: Dr. Naila Safdar
Submitted By: Hijaab Fatima
 RATE OF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION AND ITS EFFECTS ON
MARINE CALCIFYING ORGANISMS
 Ocean acidification has potential negative effects on the shell-forming organisms.
 The 26% increase in the ocean acidity is observed since 1980’s .
 The tremendous change in the rate i.e. ten times faster is observed in last 55 years (Bille
et al., 2013).
HOW OCEAN ACIDIFICATION EFFECTS MARINE
CALCIFYING ORGANISMS?
 CO2 is released as a result of anthropogenic activities.
 It combines with the water and form carbonic acid.
 Carbonic acid lowers down the pH and makes water more acidic.
 The acidic water reduces the ability of calcifying organisms to
make their skeletons and shells
Example: Sea snails, corals, planktons and oysters (Long et al., 2016).
 CASE STUDY
Dissolving of the Triton Shell (Charonia lampas) under Acidic Conditions

 Triton Shell (Charonia lampas) is a predatory snail.

 Kingdom: Animalia.
 Phylum: Mollusca.

Habitat and Uses

 Mostly distributed in the North Sea, the Atlantic
Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Indian
Ocean.
 Minimum recorded depth is 8 m and maximum
recorded depth is 50 m.
 Charonia lampas shells are used in making
necklaces (Harvey et al., 2018).
How Triton Shell (Charonia lampas) is
Controlling the population of Star Fish

 Predatory Triton Shell feeds on star fish.

 It uses its muscular foot and toothy radula
to capture the star fish.
 So, when the Triton Shell population
decreases due to ocean acidification the
population of starfish will increase .
 And the increasing starfish population
also has negative impacts as
it reduces the corals cover (Harvey et al.,
2018).

Image is showing the Predatory Triton

Shell which feeds on star fish (Source: The
Echinoblog, 2014).
 Dissolving of the Triton Shell (Charonia lampas) under Acidic Conditions

 The researchers from the University of Tsukuba, Japan, and the University of Plymouth, UK carried out
this research (2018).
 The research was done at marine coast of Shikine-Jima in Japan.
 The carbon dioxide is blubbing up from the sea beds.
 The ocean acidification cause visible deterioration in the shell thickness, density and structure
 The acidification process disturbs these organisms control on the calcifying process.
 The scientists measured the density, thickness and structure of shells using the computer tomography.
 Compared it with the thickness of the shells which are not present in the areas with raised Co2 levels.
 A considerable decline was observed.
 The length of the shell was reduced from 178mm to 112mm (Harvey et al., 2018).

This figure depicts the dissolving of the mollusks shells under acidic conditions
(Source: Harvey et al., 2018).
 Preventative Measures

 Improving the water quality.

 Monitoring and regulating the localized sources
of the ocean acidification i.e. industrial warm
and acidic pollutants run off.
 Minimizing the agricultural pollutants like
fertilizers run off in the oceans by using;
 Filtration,
 Phyto-remediation,
 Micro-remediation and
 Other pollution control techniques.
 Establish and maintain the marine protected
areas and save highly vulnerable marine
ecosystems (Wong et al., 2015).

Phytoremediation is done in order to treat the

agricultural and industrial pollutants that cause ocean
acidification (Source: Barnes, 2016).
 CASE STUDY
Coral Reef Bleaching
 This research is carried out by Kuo-
Fang Huang (Taiwan), Weifu Guo, Why Coral Reefs are Experiencing
Hannah Donald and Gavin Foster Severe Bleaching ?
(University of Southampton in England).
 Corals are the marine invertebrates. 1. Climate change and
 Kingdom: Animalia. 2. Ocean acidification (Mollica et
 Phylum: Cnidaria al., 2018).
Objective:
Symbiotic Association of Coral Polyps
 To find out how ocean
 Coral polyps enjoys their symbiotic acidification is causing decline in
relation with the photosynthetic the coral skeletal density as the
unicellular dinoflagellates (algae). coral skeleton is composed of
aragonite (calcium carbonate).
 Case Study on Coral Reef Bleaching Due to Ocean Acidification

Region
 The strong impact was observed in Indo-pacific region.
 There is possibility of 20% reduction the densities of the
coral reefs by the year 2100 in the parts of the Coral
Triangle.
Coral Triangle
 The Coral Triangle is the area which is occupied by the
waters of Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New
Guinea and Solomon Islands.
Impacts of Ocean Acidification
 Effects the density of the corals.
 Disturb the symbiotic relationship of coral polyp with
the algae.
 Coral polyp expel the colorful algae from its body and
acquired a stark white colony (Mollica et al., 2018). Table: World wide economic impacts of coral reef
bleaching due to ocean acidification (Source: Hilmi
et al., 2019).
Preventative Measures Mentioned in Case Study
“Corals are the most diverse ecosystem on the earth with tremendous economic, cultural and
ecological value” (Anne Cohen ).

Genetic Engineering is Applied to Generate the Microbial Inoculum

Which Consists of the Desired Characteristics

 Coral‐ associated bacteria could be transformed with genes of interest to produce strains
that enhance the performance of the host under climate change.
 Genomes could for instance be edited at specific sites with the CRISPR‐ Cas9 system.
 We can change the micro biome of the corals by inoculating the corals with the oil
degrading bacteria.
 Bacteria collected from the coral Mussismilia hartii were cultured on a selective medium to
isolate strains capable of degrading the oil.
 This oil degrading bacteria lessens the water pollution which is one of the main causes of
coral reef bleaching (Damjanovic et al., 2017).
 Transplantation of the Coral Fragments Between the Regions of
Different Thermal Environment

 Cross transplantation of coral

fragments between the regions of
different thermal environment leads to
the change in the micro biome of the
corals.
 After 17 months, corals that inhabited
the warmer environment harbored.
 It was observed that microbiome was
distinct from corals located in the
cooler and more stable environment.
 Later on when the corals exposed to
short‐ term heat stress, the fragments
from the warmer environment
bleached less.
 This reflect a protective effect of the
corals microbiome (Damjanovic et al., Figure A shows cross transplantation of coral fragments in
2017). different thermal environment. Figure B shows the genetic
engineering of the microbiome of the corals (Damjanovic et al.,
 Conclusion

Anthropogenic activities are the major cause of climate change and ocean
acidification. Due
to the ocean acidification the marine life is under severe threat especially the marine
calcifying
organisms which are facing severe deterioration of the calcium carbonate skeletons.
The lives of
the other marine organisms are also under threat that depends on the marine
calcifying organisms for their feeding requirements. So immediate monitoring and
biotechnological treatments are required in order to protect the huge economical,
ecological and cultural ecosystem on the earth.
 References
• Billé, R., Kelly, R., Biastoch, A., Harrould-Kolieb, E., Herr, D., Joos, F., ... & Gattuso, J. P. (2013). Taking action against ocean
acidification: a review of management and policy options. Environmental management, 52(4), 761-779.

• Damjanovic, K., Blackall, L. L., Webster, N. S. and van Oppen, M. J. (2017). The contribution of microbial biotechnology to mitigating
coral reef degradation. Microbial Biotechnology, 10(5), 1236-1243.

• Harvey, B. P., Agostini, S., Wada, S., Inaba, K., & Hall-Spencer, J. M. (2018). Dissolution: the Achilles’ heel of the triton shell in an
acidifying ocean. Frontiers in Marine Science, 5, 371.

• Hilmi, N., Osborn, D., Acar, S., Bambridge, T., Chlous, F., Cinar, M., ... & de Marffy Mantuano, A. (2019). Socio-economic tools to
mitigate the impacts of ocean acidification on economies and communities reliant on coral reefs—a framework for prioritization.
Regional Studies in Marine Science, 28, 100559.

• Long, M. C., Deutsch, C., & Ito, T. (2016). Finding forced trends in oceanic oxygen. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 30(2), 381-397.

• Mollica, N. R., Guo, W., Cohen, A. L., Huang, K. F., Foster, G. L., Donald, H. K., & Solow, A. R. (2018). Ocean acidification affects
coral growth by reducing skeletal density. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115(8), 1754-1759.

• Wong, P. P., Losada, I. J., Gattuso, J. P., Hinkel, J., Khattabi, A., McInnes, K. L., ... & Sallenger, A. (2014). Coastal systems and low-
lying areas. Climate change, 2104, 361-409.

• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2011/04/ocean-acidification.

• http://echinoblog.blogspot.com/2014/05/snails-vs-starfish-predation-in.html

• https://watershedbiodiversity.wordpress.com/2016/07/05/phytoremediation, Nigel Barnes, 2016.

• https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/current-coral-bleaching-event-longest-known Amy McDermott, 2016.