Marine Atlas: Maximizing Benefits for Vanuatu

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Acidification was measured in the Humbold 83 years sooner than 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- make up an important part of plankton: the shell-thick- 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 7.9 8 8.1 8.2 2016 2 1 4 5 3 6 7.8 7.9 8 8.1 8.2 Predictions 2016 2 1 4 5 3 6 3 7.9 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 7.9 8 8.1 8.2 ions 2016 2 1 4 5 3 6 7.9 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 ctions 2016 2 1 4 5 3 6 pH Scale: What is Acidic, What is Alkaline? 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. Vanuatu’s shallow-water corals are also at risk from increasing acidity. For example, it has been predict- ed that ocean acidity will decrease from a current pH of around 8.6 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. Moreo- ver, other non-calcium carbonate-skeleton-produc- ing species, such as fish, are threatened, as their eggs can be corroded in more acidic water. been home to a flourishing oyster industry that supplied 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.

N /

Upwelling in the Canary Current Upwelling in the Canary 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 9

15°S 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 i 8.15 8.04 7.74 Benguela Current 6 5 8 Blood

HCl

Lye

WASH

Cola

NaOH

Upwelling in the Canary Current

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

Laundry detergent

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

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

s Sea t Sea 7.62 7.64 ng in the ldt Current

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

7.98

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 Benguel 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

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 n C rre r Acidification: Some Species Adapt—Others Don’t ns. 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 e, 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 7.96 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 Ross Sea 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 e, in March 2017 a pH value of 7.6 was measured in the Humboldt Current— 83 years sooner than predicted. dictions. 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 For 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 s Sea Beaufort Sea 2 ple, in March 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 a Ross Sea Canary Current Humboldt Current California Current 5 4 3 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

7.98 7.98

ds ean with corrosive, re spreading. In ad- es are under threat. become fatally acid- ms of the upwelling ause they are under ification, warming, al, because they are e shocking failure of t we can hardly pre- . For that reason we through pollution, Positive e ect Positive e ect h corrosive, ding. In ad- nder threat. fatally acid- e upwelling y are under n, warming, use they are ng failure of hardly pre- t reason we h pollution, Positive e ect g, re of e- we n, P i ve t u ea me fatally acid- the upwelling hey are under ion, warming, cause they are king failure of an hardly pre- hat reason we ugh pollution, Positive e ect ng species, like fish, d eggs have a very —95 percent of the idic, 97 percent will already low odds is population. es, like fish, have a very cent of the percent will low odds is on. M 7.64 ecies, like fish, s have a very percent of the 97 percent will dy low odds is ation. with corrosive, eading. In ad- under threat. 8.15 7.98 7.93 7.62 8.09 8.07 8.09 7.64 h, ry he ill is e, d- at. - ng er 7.98 8.02 7.62

OCEAN ATL AS 2017

CALCITE CONCENTRATION (mol m -3 ) 0.007915

09.08.17 21:50

MOLLUSKS Mussels, snails, cephalopods L U

CORALS Tropical and cold-water corals

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

< 0.00005

Acidification: Some Species Adapt—Others Don’t

MOLLUSKS Mussels, snails, cephalopods

No Data

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

Vanuatu Provisional EEZ Boundary Archipelagic Baseline

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

120 km

ECHINODERMS Sea urchins, sea cucumbers, sea stars No e ect ECHINODERMS Sea urchins, sea cucumbers, sea stars N n 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

M M

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 a d snails, are negatively affected by acidification. Only a fe actually be efit 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 k s an s e v e t l be 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 fi h and snails, are n gatively affected by acidification. Only a few actually benefit from it.

CORALS Tropical and cold-wate

09.08.17 21:50

170°E

20°S

MAXIMIZING BENEFITS FOR VANUATU

CLIMATE CHANGE THREATS

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