Ocean Acidification Research

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Ocean Acidification Research at the Alaska
Fisheries Science Center
Jeffrey Short
Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute
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Ocean Acidification in the North Pacific Ocean
Vulnerabilities and Challenges
AFSC Research Capabilities
AFSC Research Agenda
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Projected Aragonite Surface Saturation, 2100
(IS92a)
Orr et al. Science 2005
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2006 Blue king crab pH experiment results
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Ocean Acidification - Corals
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Ocean Acidification in the North Pacific Ocean
Vulnerabilities and Challenges
AFSC Research Capabilities
AFSC Research Agenda
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AFSC Infrastructure for OA Research
Kodiak 2,300 ft2 wet lab with 200 gal/min of 34
psu seawater Shellfish culture expertise
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AFSC Infrastructure for OA Research
Kodiak 2,300 ft2 wet lab with 200 gal/min of 34
psu seawater Shellfish culture expertise
TSMRI 2,100 ft2 wet lab with 1,200 gal/min of
28-31 psu seawater Chem Lab with 6
chemists 5 techs, research
level salinometer, coulometric titrator,
alkalinity titrator, ion chromatograph,
UV-vis spectro- photometer
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AFSC Infrastructure for OA Research
Newport 20,000 ft2 wet lab with 250 gal/min of
32 psu seawater Fish behavior
dosing design expertise
Sand Point Expertise in ecological and economic
modelling, and in molecular biomarkers

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Ocean Acidification in the North Pacific Ocean
Vulnerabilities and Challenges
AFSC Research Capabilities
AFSC Research Agenda
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Ocean Acidification at AFSC Initial Projects
1. Characterize calcium carbonate dependence of
shellfish and corals
2. Develop static and flow-through dosing methods
3. Determine larval juvenile king crab
sensitivity to CO2-mediated acidification
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Kodiak Laboratory AFSC Ocean Acidification
Studies Past and Present

• 2006 Calcite undersaturation reduces calcium
  uptake, growth and survival in early life history
  blue king crabs (Paralithodes platypus).
• Measured BKC larval survival, growth, and calcium
  content at 3 pH treatments (via HCL) from hatch
  to first juvenile instar (79 days).
• 2007 Building on 2006 BKC experiments with wider
  pH range (via HCL and NaOH), DIC measurement for
  carbon availability for shell growth, and
  morphology.
• 2008 Red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus)
  larval survival, growth, calcium content 5 pH
  treatments via CO2 concentrations.

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2008 Red king crab CO2 concentration experiment

• Objectives
• Assess and compare survival
• Measure growth total weight gain
• Measure morphology changes (body length, spine
  length and area)
• Measure calcium content of larvae
• Measure CHN before and after experiment
• Treatments
• 5 CO2 concentrations to represent pre-industrial
  revolution (280 ppmv), current (400 ppmv), one
  decade projection (500 ppmv), two decade
  projection (750 ppmv), zero reduction projection
  (1000 ppmv)
• Methods
• Use artificial seawater as a base
• Design experimental CO2 dosing chambers
• Design experimental CO2 delivery system
• Per treatment 5 replicate 2 L chambers with 26
  RKC zoea each controls
• Microalgae growth experiment to determine impact
  of algal food on pH and vice versa.

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Future Kodiak Lab OA Studies

• Species
• Include blue king, golden king, Tanner, and snow
  crab
• Include shrimp
• Response variables
• Include reproductive potential, larval fitness,
  biochemical indices of condition (CHN, lipid,
  respiration)
• Experiments
• CO2 interactions with temperature
• Design experimental CO2 delivery system for later
  life history stages (ie. flow through system)
• In situ process studies
• CO2 and pH monitoring in nearshore Kodiak water
  near key crab stocks
• Monitor crab life history parameters (ie. growth,
  settlement, survival, distribution) in relation
  to CO2 and pH

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Future Kodiak Lab OA Studies

• Predictions based on depth and distribution
• Model likelihood of impact on crab stock
  distributions in the Eastern Bering Sea in
  collaboration with oceanographic data
  collections.
• Apply laboratory finding to spatially and
  temporally model magnitude of impact on various
  life history stages of EBS crab.
• Compare mechanisms of CO2 influence on spatial
  (across shelf and depth) distribution of crab
  (see following distribution maps).

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2007 Snow Crab (Chionoecetes opilio)
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2007 Tanner Crab (Chionoecetes bairdi)
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2007 Red King Crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus)
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Ocean Acidification at AFSC Longer-Term Projects
1. Link lab field process studies to
ecological and economic models
2. Develop molecular biomarkers for OA impacts
3. Develop coastal seawater monitoring network
in Alaska?