Join us for a lunch & learn presentation from Ann Marie Hulver!
Venue information to come.
Abstract
The climate engineering solution known as Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) shifts the oceanic carbon equilibrium away from CO2, drawing more atmospheric CO2 into the oceans. This process has the co-benefit of increasing the ocean pH, combatting ocean acidification. Calcifying organisms, such as coral and giant clams, decrease their growth rates in low pH, affecting reef structure and stability. By increasing the pH locally on a coral reef using OAE, we can combat decreasing coral growth. Here, I tested the effects of OAE in the form of sodium hydroxide on growth, photosynthesis, respiration, and microbial associations of two species of giant clams and four species of coral. This experiment is ongoing, but I will present our set-up and current findings.