| Contributors | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Steneck, Robert S. | University of Maine (U Maine DMC) | Principal Investigator |
| Estes, James A. | University of California-Santa Cruz (UCSC) | Co-Principal Investigator |
| Rasher, Douglas B. | Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences | Co-Principal Investigator |
| Copley, Nancy | Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI BCO-DMO) | BCO-DMO Data Manager |
We characterized the ecological status of each island by quantifying the abundance of kelps, understory algae, coralline algae, etc. at randomly selected sites, using the same methods that have been employed by us and others over the past 30 years (Estes et al. 2010). Originally, we identified potential study sites by laying a grid over a map of each island, marking every place a grid line intersected the coast; these marks were later assigned GPS waypoints. During the 2014 research cruise, we randomly selected and resampled six sites per island, or in the Semichi Islands (Alaid, Nizki, and Shemya)—island group—as this level of sampling is sufficient to determine the ecological status of an island (Estes et al. 2010). We performed identical community surveys at the sites we studied with respect to algal reef bioerosion (see associated metadata forms and datasets).
At each site, one diver sampled twenty 0.25-m^2 quadrats along the 20 foot depth contour, taking a random number of kicks between quadrats. Patches of unconsolidated substrate were rare on the rocky reef; however, if one was encountered while sampling, the diver took an additional random number of kicks and again deployed the quadrat. In each quadrat, s/he counted the stipe density of all kelps (by species) and estimated the abundance (percent cover) of fleshy red algae, sessile invertebrates, encrusting coralline algae (almost exclusively Clathromorphum nereostratum), branching coralline algae, and other algae such as Desmarestia or Codium species. Percent cover was visually estimated on a scale of 1-6, where 1 = 0-5%, 2 = 6-25%, 3 = 26-50%, 4 = 51-75%, 5 = 76-95%, and 6 = 96-100 % cover.
BCO-DMO Processing Notes:
- added conventional header with dataset name, PI name, version date
- modified parameter names to conform with BCO-DMO naming conventions
- re-formatted date from m/d/yyyy to yyyy-mm-dd
| File |
|---|
island_vegetation.csv (Comma Separated Values (.csv), 54.61 KB) MD5:abf3134df9fd3d12473b0bb74c4f0ebc Primary data file for dataset ID 755187 |
| Parameter | Description | Units |
| island | name of island | unitless |
| site_name | identity of site | unitless |
| latitude | latitude of study site | decimal degrees |
| longitude | longitude of study site | decimal degrees |
| depth_feet | depth of benthic survey | feet |
| date | calendar date of survey formatted as yyyy-mm-dd | unitless |
| observer | last name of observer | unitless |
| replicate | replicate 0.25-m^2 quadrat identifier | unitless |
| Eualaria_fistulosa_density | Number of Eualaria_fistulosa found in quadrat | count per 0.25 m^2 |
| Laminaria_spp_density | Number of Laminaria_spp | count per 0.25 m^2 |
| Laminaria_yezoensis_density | Number of Laminaria_yezoensis found in quadrat | count per 0.25 m^2 |
| Laminaria_longipes_density | Number of Laminaria_longipes found in quadrat | count per 0.25 m^2 |
| Agarum_clathratum_density | Number of Agarum_clathratum found in quadrat | count per 0.25 m^2 |
| Thalassiophyllum_clathrus_density | Number of Thalassiophyllum_clathrus found in quadrat | count per 0.25 m^2 |
| Cymathaere_triplicata_density | Number of Cymathaere_triplicata found in quadrat | count per 0.25 m^2 |
| filamentous_red_algae_cover_score | Percent cover of filamentous red algae | percent cover per 0.25 m^2 |
| suspension_feeder_cover_score | Percent cover of suspension feeder found in quadrat | percent cover per 0.25 m^2 |
| Desmarestia_spp_cover_score | Percent cover of Desmarestia spp. found in quadrat | percent cover per 0.25 m^2 |
| Codium_spp_cover_score | Percent cover of Codium spp. found in quadrat | percent cover per 0.25 m^2 |
| crustose_coralline_algae_cover_score | Percent cover of crustose coralline algae found in quadrat | percent cover per 0.25 m^2 |
| Website | |
| Platform | R/V Point Sur |
| Start Date | 2014-07-05 |
| End Date | 2014-07-22 |
| Description | Benthic community studies associated with project "Project: Ocean Acidification: Century Scale Impacts to Ecosystem Structure and Function of Aleutian Kelp Forests". |
Extracted from the NSF award abstract:
Marine calcifying organisms are most at risk to rapid ocean acidification (OA) in cold-water ecosystems. The investigators propose to determine if a globally unique and widespread calcareous alga in Alaska's Aleutian archipelago, Clathromorphum nereostratum, is threatened with extinction due to the combined effects of OA and food web alterations. C. nereostratum is a slow growing coralline alga that can live to at least 2000 years. It accretes massive 'bioherms' that dominate the regions' rocky substrate both under kelp forests and deforested sea urchin barrens. It develops growth bands (similar to tree rings) in its calcareous skeleton, which effectively record its annual calcification rate over centuries. Pilot data suggest the skeletal density of C. nereostratum began to decline precipitously in the 1990's in some parts of the Aleutian archipelago. The investigators now propose to use high-resolution microscopy and microCT imaging to examine how the growth and skeletal density of C. nereostratum has changed in the past 300 years (i.e., since the industrial revolution) across the western Aleutians. They will compare their records of algal skeletal densities and their variation through time with reconstructions of past climate to infer causes of change. In addition, the investigators will examine whether the alga's defense against grazing by sea urchins is compromised by ongoing ocean acidification. The investigators will survey the extent of C. nereostratum bioerosion occurring at 10 sites spanning the western Aleutians, both inside and outside of kelp forests. At each site they will compare these patterns to observed and monitored ecosystem trophic structure and recent C. nereostratum calcification rates. Field observations will be combined with laboratory experiments to determine if it is a decline in the alga's skeletal density (due to recent OA and warming), an increase in grazing intensity (due to recent trophic-level dysfunction), or their interactive effects that are likely responsible for bioerosion patterns inside vs. outside of forests. By sampling C. nereostratum inside and outside of forests, they will determine if kelp forests locally increase pH via photosynthesis, and thus buffer the effects of OA on coralline calcification. The combination of field observations with laboratory controlled experiments, manipulating CO2 and temperature, will help elucidate drivers of calcification and project how these species interactions will likely change in the near future. The project will provide the first in situ example of how ongoing ocean acidification is affecting the physiology of long-lived, carbonate producing organisms in the subarctic North Pacific. It will also be one of the first studies to document whether OA, ocean warming, and food web changes to ecological processes are interacting in complex ways to reshape the outcome of species interactions in nature.
NSF Climate Research Investment (CRI) activities that were initiated in 2010 are now included under Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability NSF-Wide Investment (SEES). SEES is a portfolio of activities that highlights NSF's unique role in helping society address the challenge(s) of achieving sustainability. Detailed information about the SEES program is available from NSF (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504707).
In recognition of the need for basic research concerning the nature, extent and impact of ocean acidification on oceanic environments in the past, present and future, the goal of the SEES: OA program is to understand (a) the chemistry and physical chemistry of ocean acidification; (b) how ocean acidification interacts with processes at the organismal level; and (c) how the earth system history informs our understanding of the effects of ocean acidification on the present day and future ocean.
Solicitations issued under this program:
NSF 10-530, FY 2010-FY2011
NSF 12-500, FY 2012
NSF 12-600, FY 2013
NSF 13-586, FY 2014
NSF 13-586 was the final solicitation that will be released for this program.
PI Meetings:
1st U.S. Ocean Acidification PI Meeting(March 22-24, 2011, Woods Hole, MA)
2nd U.S. Ocean Acidification PI Meeting(Sept. 18-20, 2013, Washington, DC)
3rd U.S. Ocean Acidification PI Meeting (June 9-11, 2015, Woods Hole, MA – Tentative)
NSF media releases for the Ocean Acidification Program:
Press Release 10-186 NSF Awards Grants to Study Effects of Ocean Acidification
Discovery Blue Mussels "Hang On" Along Rocky Shores: For How Long?
Press Release 13-102 World Oceans Month Brings Mixed News for Oysters
| Funding Source | Award |
|---|---|
| NSF Arctic Sciences (NSF ARC) |