Marine Atlas: Maximizing Benefits for Fiji

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Acidificatio as measured in the Humbol 83 years sooner tha What happened? The upwelling of deeper water in coastal regions changed. Researchers determined that the pH value of the water near the coast had declined starkly. The deep-sea water had thus transformed from a source of nourishment into a life-threatening environment. When the acid concentration became too great, the oyster lar- vae died. Researchers discovered that a portion of this in- ness of animals from the southern ocean has noticeably decreased compared to specimens from the pre-industri- al period. The effect on oysters is slightly different: it has been observed that the thickness of their shells does not decrease, but only because they invest so much energy in shell production that it stunts their overall growth. As a result, they are easier prey for predators, such as murex snails. The situation is particularly critical for calcifying species in zones in which the carbonate saturation drops too far. In that case, the water actually begins to draw carbonate out of their shells and corroding them. This is already happening in some regions in Antarctica and in the North Atlantic. The cold-water corals that live there cannot maintain their chalk skeletons and will eventually pH Scale: What is Acidic, What is Alkaline? Wine Average pH value of seawater in 2100 pH 7.76 pH 8.18 Average pH value of seawater in 1870 8 8.1 8.2 2016 2 1 4 5 3 6 7.9 8 8.1 8.2 2016 2 1 4 5 3 6 8 8.1 8.2 2016 2 1 4 5 3 6 8 8.1 8.2 2016 2 1 4 5 3 6 7.9 8 8.1 8.2 2016 2 1 4 5 3 6 8 8.1 8.2 2016 2 1 4 5 3 6 Upwelling in the Canary Current 3 7.9 8 8.1 8.2 2016 2 1 4 5 3 6 pH Scale: What is Acidic, What is Alkaline? drops too far. In that case, the water actually begins to draw carbonate out of their shells and corrodes them. This is already happening in some regions in Antarctica and in the North Atlantic. The cold-water corals that live there cannot maintain their skeletons and will eventually collapse. Fiji’s shallow-water corals are also at risk from in- creasing acidity. For example, it has been predict- ed that ocean acidity will decrease from a current pH of around 8.3 to a pH of 7.9 by 2100. This level of decrease has been shown to result in a 50 per cent reduction in coral productivity, and increased acidity makes coral bleaching more likely. More- over, other non-calcium carbonate-skeleton-pro- ducing species, such as fish, are threatened, as their eggs can be corroded in more acidic water. the delicacy to the entire country. But in 2005 the oyster farmers received an unexpected shock: the next genera- tion did not appear. The oyster larvae had perished. The population did not recover in the years that followed, and the West Coast oyster industry collapsed. Thousands lost their jobs.

Predictions ons

7.8

7.9

7.8

7.9

Upwelling in the Canary Current Upwelling in the Canary Current

CALCITE CONCENTRATION (mol m -3 ) 0.01 CC-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: UNESCO / WITTMANN & PÖRTNER CC-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: MPI CC-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: UNESCO / WITTMANN & PÖRTNER CC-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: MPI

178°E CC-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: UNESCO / WITTMANN & PÖRTNER CC-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: MPI 7.70 8.15 8.04 7.74 Benguela Current 6 CC-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: UNESCO / WITTMANN & PÖRTNER CC-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: MPI CC-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: UNESCO / WITTMANN & PÖRTNER CC-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: MPI 8.15 8.04 7.74 Benguela Current 6 7.74 CC-BY-S PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: UNESCO / WITTMANN & PÖRTNER CC-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: MPI N 8.15 8.04 7.74 Benguela Current 6 16°S < 0.0001 5 6 7 8 Blood

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Upwelling in the Canary Current

dapt—Others Don’t Neutral Alkaline Acidic Slightly alkaline Slightly acidic Very acidic Mineral water Soap Hydrochloric acid Upwelling in the Canary Current Upwelling in the Canary Current 3 Upwelling in the Benguela Current 6 Upwelling in the Benguela Current 6 Upwelling in the Canary Current 3 Upwelling in the Benguela Current 6 Upwelling in the Benguela Current 6

elling in the boldt Current

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Fiji Provisional EEZ Boundary Archipelagic Baseline CC-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: UNESCO / WITTMANN & PÖRTNER CC-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: MPI 9

Very alkaline

CC-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN ATLAS 2017

6 Upwelling in the Humboldt Current 8.09 7.98

2 Upwelling in the Benguela Current 8.04

Upwelling in the Benguela Current 8.07 7.78 6 7.64 3

7.64 g in the dt Current Sea 7.62

8.04 Upwelling in the Benguela Current 8.07 7.78 Canary Current 7.96 7.66 8.15

7.96

7.66

8.15

8.01

7.70

8.15

8.15 Humboldt Current 8.01 7.70

8.15 California Current 8.04 7.74

Canary Current Ross Sea

The difference may seem small, but the decline in the pH value from 1870 to 2100 would mean a 170 percent increase in acidity. Much smaller changes already pose problems for many sea creatures. Humboldt Current California Current Benguela Current 5 6 The difference may seem small, but the decline in the pH value from the year 1870 (pH 8.25) to 2100 (pH of 7.9) would mean a 170 per cent increase in acidity. Much smaller changes already pose problems for many sea creatures. 4

Sea

28 8.07 Acidification: Some Species Adapt—Others Don’t in March 2017 a pH value of 7.6 was measured in the Humboldt Current— 83 years sooner than predicted. C nary Current Humboldt Current California C rrent Benguela Current 5 6 4 3 r h 7 p a f 7 6 w as e C rre r Acidification: Some Species Adapt—Others Don’t s. For example, in March 2017 a pH value of 7.6 was measured in the Humboldt Current— 83 years sooner than predicted. Acidification: Some Species Adapt – Others Don’t , in March 2017 a pH value of 7.6 was measured in the Humboldt Current— 83 years sooner than predicted. Sea Canary Current Humboldt Current California Current Benguela Current 5 6 4 3 S a a y t 3 7.64 7.64 8.15 8. 8.07 8.07 7.78 7. 8.04 8.0 7.96 7. 7.66 7.66 8.15 8.15 8.01 8.01 7.70 7.7 8.15 8.15 8.04 8.0 7.74 7.7 oss Se 7.98 7.64 8.15 7.78 8.04 7.96 7.66 8.15 8.01 7.70 8.15 8.04 BOE_Meeresatlas_Innenteil_EN_11.indd 28 , in March 2017 a pH value of 7.6 was measured in the Humboldt Current— 83 years sooner than predicted. ictions. For exam le, in March 2017 a pH value of 7.6 was measured in the Humboldt Current— 83 years sooner than predicted. MOLLUSKS Mussels, snails, cephalopods or ex mple, in arch 2017 a pH value of 7.6 was measured in the Humboldt Current— 83 years sooner than predicted. Acidification: Some Species Adapt—Oth rs D n’t MOLLUSKS Mussels, snails, cephalopods Sea eaufort Sea 2 le, in M rch 2017 a pH value of 7.6 was measured in th Humboldt Current— 83 years sooner than predicted. Canary Current Humboldt Current California Current Benguela Current 5 6 4 3 Canary Current Humboldt Current California Current 2 5 4 3 Acidification: Some Species Adapt—Others Don’t Ross Sea Canary Current Humboldt Current California Current 5 4 3 7.64 cies, like fish, have a very ercent of the 7 percent will y low odds is tion. 8.15 7.98 7.93 7.62 8.09 8.07 8.09 7.64 7.78 Ross Sea 7.98 8.04 8.07 7.96 7.66 8.07 8.15 7.96 8.01 8.04 7.66 7.70 7.96 8.15 8.01 8.04 7.74 8.01 7.64 8.15 8.15 7.78 7.78 8.04 7.66 8.15 8.15 7.70

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09.08.17 21:50

s an with corrosive, e spreading. In ad- s are under threat. ecome fatally acid- s of the upwelling use they are under fication, warming, l, because they are shocking failure of we can hardly pre- For that reason we through pollution, Positive e ect Positive e ect corrosive, ing. In ad- der threat. atally acid- upwelling are under , warming, se they are g failure of hardly pre- reason we pollution, Positive e ect P i ve t S u ea ith corrosive, ading. In ad- under threat. e fatally acid- he upwelling ey are under on, warming, ause they are ing failure of n hardly pre- at reason we gh pollution, Positive e ect g species, like fish, eggs have a very 95 percent of the dic, 97 percent will already low odds is opulation. s, like fish, ave a very ent of the ercent will low odds is n. M

MOLLUSKS Mussels, snails, cephalopods L U

CORALS Tropical and cold-water corals

Acidification: Some Species Adapt—Others Don’t CORALS Tropical and cold-water corals o

Acidification: Some Species Adapt—Others Don’t

MOLLUSKS Mussels, snails, cephalopods

CORALS Tropical and cold-water corals CRUSTACEANS Shrimp, lobsters, copepods CORALS Tropical and cold-water corals CORALS Tropical and cold-water corals

MOLLUSKS Mussels, snails, cephalopods

CRUSTACEANS Shrimp, lobsters, copepods CRUSTACEANS Shrimp, lobsters, copepods ECHINODERMS Sea urchins, sea cucumbers, sea stars

CORALS Tropical and cold-water corals

ECHINODERMS Sea urchins, sea cucumbers, sea stars No e ect ECHINODERMS Sea urchins, sea cucumbers, sea stars No e ect ECHINODERMS Sea urchins, sea cucumbers, sea stars r Positive e ect ECHINODERMS Sea urchins, sea cucumbers, sea stars

FINFISH Herring, tuna, cod

FINFISH Herring, tuna, cod FINFISH Herring, tuna, cod CRUSTACEANS Shrimp, lobsters, copepods Negative e ect

CRUSTACEANS Shrimp, lobsters, copepods

No e ect

CRUSTACEANS Shrimp, lobsters, copepods Negative e ect

CRUSTACEANS Shrimp, lobsters, copepods

Many animals, like fish and snails, are negatively affected by acidification. Only a few actually benefit from it.

No e ect Positive e ect Many animals, like fish and snails, are negatively affected by acidification. Only a few actually benefit from it. any animals, including fish and sn ils are negativ ly affected by acidification. Only a few actually benefit from it. Negative e ect No e ect FINFISH Herring, tuna, cod Many animals, like fish and snails, are negatively affected by acidification. Only a few actually benefit from it. ECHINODERMS Sea urchins, sea cucumbers, sea stars FINFISH Herring, tuna, cod Negative e ect s an s e v e e f Many animals, like fish and snails, are negatively affected by acidification. Only a few actually benefit from it. No e ect Negative e ect Positive e ect ECHINODERMS Sea urchins, sea cucumbers, sea stars 29 Many animals, like fish and snails, are negatively affected by acidification. Only a few actually benefit from it. No e ect Negative e ect FINFISH Herring, tuna, cod Negative e ect

FINFISH Herring, tuna, cod

Many animals, like fish and snails, are negatively affected by acidification. Only a few actually benefit from it. 09.08.17 21:50 09.08.17 21:50 29

Many animals, like fish and sn ils, are n gatively affected by acidification. Only a few actually benefit from it.

CORALS Tropical and cold-wat

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18°S

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20°S

100 km

MAXIMIZING BENEFITS FOR FIJI

CLIMATE CHANGE THREATS

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