Ocean acidification in seagrass habitats

Researchers used field observations and climate modeling to study the effect of ocean acidification (OA) on an estuarine seagrass habitat in Puget Sound, Washington from 1765 to 2100, and found that increasing levels of carbon dioxide (CO₂) reduced the ability of the seagrass habitat to withstand natural CO₂ fluctuations, resulting in amplified extremes of pH and partial pressure of seawater CO₂; however, the seagrass habitat helped to locally mitigate OA with the higher CO₂ levels projected toward 2100, findings with potential implications for water quality management strategies.

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Article #17-03445: "Seagrass habitat metabolism increases short-term extremes and long-term offset of CO₂ under future ocean acidification," by Stephen R. Pacella et al.

MEDIA CONTACT: Stephen R. Pacella, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR; tel: 412-952-2568; e-mail: spacella@coas.oregonstate.edu

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