Under conditions expected in the 21st century, global warming and ocean acidification will cause corals to become increasingly rare on reef systems. This review presents future scenarios for coral reefs that predict increasingly serious consequences for reef-associated fisheries, tourism, coastal protection, and people.

When grown under ocean acidification conditions, a non-calcifying seaweed (Chondrus crispus) grew to cover more area, while a calcifying alga (Corallina officinalis) decreased in the area it covered. (Laboratory experiment)

A coralline alga took up and used carbon and nutrients differently when living under ocean acidification conditions for 12 weeks, and the changes affected its ability to compete with other macroalgae (seaweed). (Laboratory study)

Growth and photosynthetic efficiency of a coralline alga decreased under high CO2 levels. These changes could affect the alga's ability to compete with other macroalgae (seaweeds). (Laboratory study)

Sea stars collected in Nova Scotia, Canada, grew more slowly under ocean acidification conditions, and their growth rate decreased further with a warmer temperature. In contrast, blue mussel grew more quickly with no response to temperature within the tested range. Predation of sea stars on mussels, measured as per-capita consumption ...

Under extreme ocean acidification conditions (pH 6.8), the egg production rates of copepods decreased significantly. For two species of sea urchins, fertilization rate of eggs decreased with increasing ocean acidification conditions. Furthermore, the size of urchin larvae decreased and deformities increased. These effects on marine life could lead to changes ...

Muscle length and claw strength of green crabs decreased after the crabs had been in ocean acidification conditions (pH 7.7) for 5 months. Periwinkles tended to have weaker shells in response to acidification. Predation by green crabs on periwinkles did not appear to change under ocean acidification conditions. (Laboratory study) ...

Normally, common periwinkles produce thicker shells in the presence of crab predators. This study found that they did not do so when living in acidified seawater for 15 days. The snails apparently compensated for their lack of defensive shell-building by moving more to avoid the crabs. In a ...

This study used Earth system models to examine how four of the major stressors of ocean ecosystems—warming, acidification, deoxygenation, and changes in primary productivity—may evolve over the 21st century.

Marine phytoplankton have many characteristics, such as rapid cell division rates and large population sizes, that may enable them to adapt to ocean acidification and other types of global change. This paper reviews findings from previous studies to evaluate whether this adaptation is likely to occur, and it stresses the ...