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Ocean acidification refugia in variable environments
Author(s) -
Kapsenberg Lydia,
Cyronak Tyler
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
global change biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.146
H-Index - 255
eISSN - 1365-2486
pISSN - 1354-1013
DOI - 10.1111/gcb.14730
Subject(s) - ocean acidification , environmental science , climate change , ecosystem , biosphere , marine ecosystem , seawater , global change , global warming , ecology , natural (archaeology) , vulnerability (computing) , carbon dioxide in earth's atmosphere , environmental resource management , oceanography , geography , biology , computer science , computer security , archaeology , geology
Climate change refugia in the terrestrial biosphere are areas where species are protected from global environmental change and arise from natural heterogeneity in landscapes and climate. Within the marine realm, ocean acidification, or the global decline in seawater pH, remains a pervasive threat to organisms and ecosystems. Natural variability in seawater carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) chemistry, however, presents an opportunity to identify ocean acidification refugia (OAR) for marine species. Here, we review the literature to examine the impacts of variable CO 2 chemistry on biological responses to ocean acidification and develop a framework of definitions and criteria that connects current OAR research to management goals. Under the concept of managing vulnerability, the most likely mechanisms by which OAR can mitigate ocean acidification impacts are by reducing exposure to harmful conditions or enhancing adaptive capacity. While local management options, such as OAR, show some promise, they present unique challenges, and reducing global anthropogenic CO 2 emissions must remain a priority.