Coral reefs, and the species who rely on them, are more sensitive to the impacts of climate change than previously thought with results from the Foundation's Carbon dioxide seeps: collaborative field studies project published today in the journal Nature Climate Change.
The project, led by Australian Institute of Marines Science research scientist Dr Katharina Fabricius, has shown how ocean acidification wipes out zooplankton populations essential for coral survival.
Volcanic carbon dioxide seeps bubbling below isolated Milne Bay in Papua New Guinea have provided a unique undersea laboratory for the project team to investigate the effects of high levels of carbon dioxide on coral reefsand this unique 'window into the future' is helping predict what could occur to marine communities under climate change conditions.
Striking effects of CO2 on zooplankton were found in the waters near underwater seeps.
Where the high levels of CO2 made water more acidic, zooplankton numbers were reduced by more than half, compared to areas with normal CO2 levels.
