Impact of Climate change on Marine Invertabraes

Impact of climate change stressors on calcifying and non-calcifying marine life stages: predicting tipping points for persistence in a changing ocean.

Funding: ARC Discovery (2011-2013)

Investigators: Maria Byrne, Symon Dworjanyn

Summary

As the oceans simultaneously warm, acidify, increase in pCO2 and decrease in carbonate saturation due to climate change, prospects for marine biota are of concern, particularly early life history stages. These factors are deleterious to marine life and are likely to have negative interactive effects, which are not understood. In carefully controlled multistressor experiments this project investigates the synergistic impacts of climate change stressors on calcifying and non-calcifying life stages of ecologically important asteroids and echinoids. Investigation of species from the tropics to the poles will generate key insights into biological responses and tipping points for survival in a changing ocean.

Updated: 06 May 2013