Effects of ocean warming and acidification on rhodolith growth across the Atlantic Ocean

My research project will be investigating the effects of climate change, through ocean acidification and warming, on the growth rate of a coralline algae species that is prevalent in arctic and subarctic oceans. Coralline algae take in calcium carbonate from seawater and form hard skeletons, similar to a coral reef. In doing so, they create complex living structures for many bottom-dwelling species which use them for protection and nursery habitat. Ocean warming may stimulate this species’ annual growth rate through a reduction in the amount of time it spends in dormancy due to near-freezing water temperatures. However, ocean acidification is likely to have the opposite effect, where it will degrade the skeletal material of this species to the point of significant damage. I will be examining how these two threats will act in tandem on my species of interest. This research has never been done on my species of interest, and thus provides a significant opportunity for expansion into climate-change based cold ocean research. Further, it marks the beginning of a fruitful collaboration between my home institution (Memorial University of Newfoundland) and Umeå University, with numerous opportunities for joint publications arising from my novel research project.

Faculty Supervisor:

Patrick Gagnon

Student:

Partner:

Umeå University

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Program: