Ocean acidification puts coastal seaweed belts at risk

In this study, bladder wrack Fucus vesiculosus was cultured in predicted future CO₂ levels. This resulted in an increase of leaf surface area – and a drastic decrease in tissue strength. It is the first time such an effect of increased CO₂ levels is reported for seaweeds.

Due to the increased storm events that are associated with climate change, this significantly reduced breaking strength could result in loss of seaweed biomass. This might in turn have implications for the future community structure of shallow coastal areas under ocean acidification. 

"Hopefully, the results will open our eyes to the fact that climate change can also have negative effects on common, but very important, species in our ecosystems. And that ocean acidification can have negative effects even on species that do not form limestone shells", says Alexandra Kinnby, PhD student at Tjärnö Marine Laboratory and first author.