Research Project High-CO2 Seas - Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn

Research Project

Ocean acidification (OA) is a change in seawater chemistry due to the uptake of excess anthropogenic CO2 by the ocean and a concomitant decline in seawater pH. OA is expected to profoundly alter the diversity and function of marine ecosystems, as well as the services they provide to society. Thus, understanding how future oceans will function in the face of OA represents one of the main challenges and needs for marine science and management. The aim of the High-CO₂ Seas project is to assess the effects of OA on marine biodiversity across different habitats, typical of the Mediterranean Sea, affected by volcanic CO2 vents occurring along the coast of Ischia Island (Tyrrhenian Sea Italy) and to study the mechanisms of acclimation/adaptation to OA on the endemic Mediterranean coral Astroides calycularis.

High-CO₂ Seas is expected to considerably expand our knowledge on the vulnerability of marine biodiversity and the alteration of its function to OA.
To achieve these scientific objectives, High-CO₂ Seas created a highly cooperative, multi-disciplinary and international consortium with skills in chemical oceanography, marine ecology, mineralogy, eco-physiology, genetics, and communication. The consortium is formed by seven research institutions from Italy, France, and USA. High-CO₂ Seas is coordinated by the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples (Italy) and is funded by the Total Foundation.

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Website: http://highco2seas.com/
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