The effect of ocean acidification on calcifying foraminifera

Verboom, L. (2014) The effect of ocean acidification on calcifying foraminifera. Bachelor's Thesis, Biology.

Preview	Text The_effect_of_ocean_acidificat_1.pdf - Published Version Download (938kB) | Preview
	Text toestemming.pdf - Other Restricted to Backend only Download (26kB)

Abstract

Ocean acidification is the anthropogenic change in ocean chemistry driven by the oceanic uptake of chemical inputs in the atmosphere, most importantly that of CO2. The increase of CO2 in the ocean causes the acidity of the ocean to increase, causing the production of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) to decrease. Foraminifera are a group of protists that are often protected by a calcite test, and therefore may be hindered by the increasing acidity of the ocean. In this review article I discuss the process of ocean acidification, the adaptations of Foraminifera to low pH conditions and the reaction of Foraminifera to the ongoing ocean acidification. I used the four Representative Concentration Pathways to assess possible future situations. I conclude that compared to other calcifying organisms Foraminifera are likely to survive the ongoing ocean acidification, because they have evolved different strategies to keep their calcite production up. They also produce a form of calcium carbonate that is capable of surviving lower acidities than many other organisms, both in structure and in Magnesium content.

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis)
Degree programme:	Biology
Thesis type:	Bachelor's Thesis
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	15 Feb 2018 07:58
Last Modified:	15 Feb 2018 07:58
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/12124

Actions (login required)

View Item