Marine Atlas: Maximizing Benefits for Kiribati

Acidification: Som was measured in the Humboldt Current— 83 years sooner than predicted. 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- 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? HCl WASH NaOH Cola Wine Mineral water Average pH value of seawater in 2100 pH 7.76 pH 8.18 Average pH value of seawater in 1870 Blood Soap Laundry detergent Hydrochloric acid Lye 2016 2 1 4 5 3 6 tions 2016 2 1 4 5 3 6 welling in the nary Current 9 8 8.1 8.2 2016 2 4 3 6 8 8.1 8.2 2016 2 1 4 5 3 6 ons 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 7.8 7.9 8 8.1 8.2 2016 2 4 3 6 pH Scale: hat is Acidic, What is Alkaline?

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 29 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 7.70 8.15 8.04 7.74 Benguela Current 6 8.2 7.74 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 PETRABOECKMAN .DE / OCEAN ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: UNESCO / WITTMANN & PÖRTNER CC-BY-SA PETRABOECKMAN .DE / OCEAN ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: MPI 29 CORALS Tropical and cold-water corals FINFISH Herring, tuna, cod 8.2

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 CC-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: UNESCO / WITTMANN & PÖRTNER CC-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: MPI

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8 7.9

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Acidic

Slightly acidic

Neutral

Slightly alkaline

Alkaline

Very alkaline

6 elling in the ary Current Upwelling in the Canary Current welling in the ary Current welling in the mboldt Current

Upwelling in the Benguela Current

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

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Upwelling in the Benguela Current

Adapt—Others Don’t decreased compared to specimens from the pre-industrial period. The effect on oysters is slightly different: it has been observed that the thickness of their shells does not decrease, 28 welling in the nary Current Upwelling in the Canary Current 3 8.15 8.07 7.78 8.04 7.96 7.66 8.15 8.01 7.70 8.15 8.04 7.74 Canary Current Humboldt Current California Current Benguela Current 5 6 4 3 Upwelling in the Benguela Current 6 Upwelling in the Ca ary Current 3 Upwelling in the Benguela Current 6 Upwelling in th Benguela Curren 6 rt Sea Ross Sea 7.62 8.09 7.98 7.64 8.15 8.07 7.78 8.04 7.96 7.66 8.15 8.01 7.70 8.15 8.04 7.74 Canary Current Humboldt Current California Current Benguela Current 2 5 6 4 3 but only because they invest so much energy into shell production that it stunts their overall growth. This makes them easier prey for pred- ators, such as murex snails.

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. The difference may s em small, but th decline in the pH valu from the year 1870 (pH 8.25) to 2 00 (pH of 7.9) ould mean 170 per cent increase in cidity. Much smaller changes already pose problems for many sea creatures.

OCEAN ATL AS 2017

5°N

CALCITE CONCENTRATION (mol m -3 ) 0.01

BOE_Meeresatlas_Innenteil_EN_11.indd 28

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Upwelling in the Benguela Current ns. For example, in March 2017 a pH value of 7.6 was measured in the Humboldt Current— 83 years sooner than predicted. 6 ling in the oldt Current g in the dt Current Upwelling in the Benguela Current 6 rch 2017 a pH value of 7.6 was measured in the Humboldt Current— 83 years sooner than predicted. Upwelling in the Benguela Current 6

5°N

09.08.17 21:50 The situation is particularly critical for calci- fying species in zones in which carbonate saturation drops too far. In that case, the water actually begins to draw carbonate out of their shells and corrodes them. This is al- ready happening in some regions in Antarc- tica and in the North Atlantic. The cold-wa- ter corals that live there cannot maintain eir skele ons and will eventually collapse. Kiribati’s shallow-water corals are also likely to be affected if acidity continues to increase. 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-skel- eton-producing species, such as fish, are threatened, as their eggs can be corroded in more acidic water. It seems that in the face of global warming’s “evil twin” (ocean acidification), Kiribati’s sea is turning sour.

ds 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 Positive e ect th corrosive, ading. In ad- under threat. e fatally acid- he upwelling ey are under n, warming, ause they are ing failure of n hardly pre- at reason we gh pollution, Positive e ect s, like fish, ave very ent of the ercent will ow odds is on. Positive e ect with corrosive, reading. In ad- e under threat. me fatally acid- the upwelling they are under tion, warming, ecause they are cking failure of can hardly pre- that eason we ugh pollution, ies, like fish, have a very rcent of the percent will y low odds is tion. Canary Current 8.07 7.78 Canary Current ecies, like fish, gs have a very percent of the 97 percent will ady low odds is lation. 3 8.15 8.07 3 8.15 3 8.07 8.09

dification: Some Species Adapt—Others Don’t 8.15 8.07 7.78 8.04 7.96 7.66 8.15 8.01 7.70

8.15 8.15 Acidification: Some Species Adapt – Others Don’t 8.04 8.04 7.74 7.74 Humboldt Current 8.04 7.96 7.66 Humboldt Current Acidificatio : Some Species Adapt—Others Don’t California Current 8.15 8.01 7.70 California Current Benguela Current Benguela Current 5 6 8.04 7.96 7.66 8.15 8.01 7.70 8.15 8.04 Humboldt Current California Current Benguela Current 5 6 4 5 6

< 0.0001

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Kiribati Provisional EEZ Boundary

Canary Current

8.15 ification: Some Species Adapt—Others Don’t 8.09 7.98 7.64 8.15 8.07 7.78 8.04 7.96 cidification: Some Species Adapt—Others Don’t ification: Some Species Adapt—Others Don’ 7.78 Ross Sea 7.98 8.04 7.96 7.66 8.07 8.15 7.70 7.96 Canary Current Ross Sea 2 Humboldt Current Canary Current 3 California Current 5 4 3 ea 7.62 7.64 8.15 7.78 Canary Current Humboldt Current 2 4 3 MOLLUSKS Mussels, snails, cephalopods ch 2017 a pH value of 7.6 was measured in the Humboldt Current— 83 years sooner than predicted. March 2017 a pH value of 7.6 was measured in the Humboldt Current— 83 years sooner than predicted. ch 2017 a pH value of 7.6 was measured in the Humboldt Current— 83 years sooner than predicted. MOLLUSKS Mussels, snails, c phalop ds California Current 4 8.01 8.04 CORALS Tropical and cold-water corals 7.66 8.15 Humboldt Current 5 8.15 8.04 6 7.66 8.15 5 7.74 8.01 California Current 8.01 Benguela Current

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Sources : Becker et al, 2009; Claus et al, 2016; Smith and Sandwell 1997; Tyberghein et al, 2011. Copyright © MACBIO Map produced by GRID-Arendal

0°

rch 2017 a pH value of 7.6 was measured in the Humboldt Current— 83 years sooner than predicted. . For exam le, in March 2017 a pH value of 7.6 was measured in the Humboldt Current— 83 years sooner than predicted. For example, in March 2017 a pH value of 7.6 was measured in the Humboldt Current— 83 years sooner than predicted.

MOLLUSKS Mussels, snails, cephalopods MOLLUSKS Mus els snails, cephalopods

MOLLUSKS Mussels, snails, cephalopods

Acidification: Some Species Adapt—Others Don’t Acidifi ation: Some Species Adapt—Others Don’t CRUSTACEANS Shrimp, lobsters, copepods CORALS Tropical and cold-water corals CORALS Tropical and cold-water corals CORALS Tropical and cold-water corals CRUSTACEANS Shrimp, lobsters, copepods

dification: Some Species Adapt—Others Don’t

5°S

170°E

175°E

180°

MOLLUSKS Mussels, snails, cephalopods MOLLUSKS Mussels, snails, cephalopods ECHINODERMS Sea urchins, sea cucumbers, sea stars

MOLLUSKS Mussels, snails, cephalopods ECHINODERM Sea urchins, ea cucumbers, sea stars

175°W

170°W

FINFISH Herring, tuna, cod

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0°

CORALS Tropical and cold-water corals CORALS Tropical and cold-water corals

CORALS Tropical and cold-water corals

Negative e ect CRUSTACEANS Shrimp, lobsters, copepods CRUSTACEANS Shrimp, lobsters, copepods Positive e ect

No e ect

CRUSTACEANS Shrimp, lobsters, copepods No e ect

Negative e ect

MAXIMIZING BENEFITS FOR KIRIBATI 55 MOLLU Mussels, s 150°W 155°W 160°W 10°S 5°S CLIMATE CHANGE THREATS

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

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

ECHINODERMS Sea urchins, sea cucumbers, sea stars ECHINODERMS Sea urchins, sea cucumbers, sea stars

FINFISH Herring, tuna, cod FINFISH Herring, tuna, cod

ECHINODERMS Sea urchins, sea cucumbers, sea stars

CRUSTACEANS Shrimp, lobsters, copepods CRUSTACEANS Shrimp, lobsters, copepods FINFISH Herring, tuna, cod

CRUSTACEANS Shrimp, lobsters, copepods Negative e ect Negative e ect

No e ect No e ect

No e ect

Negative e ect

FINFISH Herring, tuna, cod Man nimals, like fish and sn ils, re negatively affected by acidification. Only a few actually benefit from it. Many animals, like fish and snails, are negatively affected by acidificat on. Only a few c ually benefit from it. ECHINODERMS Sea urchins, sea cucumbers, sea stars 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 09.08.17 21:50 FINFISH Herring, tuna, cod

ECHINODERMS Sea urchins, sea cucumbers, sea stars

No e ect

Negative e ect

Positive e ect

No e ect

Negative e ect

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Positive e ect

No e ect

Negative e ect

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

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

CORALS

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