Impact of ocean acidification on marine organisms

Zakiseljavanje mora je proces koji se događa zbog porasta koncentracije ugljikovog dioksida u oceanima, što dovodi do snižavanja pH vrijednosti. Ono u velikoj mjeri ovisi o koncentraciji ugljikovog dioksida u oceanima, no mogu ga pospješiti i drugi faktori, kao što su proces nitrifikacije i porast temperature. Zbog globalnog zatopljivanja zakiseljavanje mora je posljednjih godina posebno zainteresiralo znanstvenike i širu javnost. U ovom radu napravljen je pregled do sada proučenih utjecaja zakiseljavanja mora na neke od ključnih skupina morskih organizmima. U svjetlu povećanja koncentracije pH u moru sagledan je proces kalcifikacije kod organizama koji ugrađuju kalcijev karbonat u svoje tijelo (planktonski organizmi, koralji, bodljikaši, mekušci i rakovi), a uz to obrađeni su problemi koji se javljaju u organizama koji ne kalcificiraju, kao što su ribe. Posebno su obrađene i makroalge. Znanstvenici su primijetili da različiti organizmi različito reagiraju na zakiseljavanje, no svi se slažu da se sa smanjenjem pH vrijednosti oceana i svjetskih mora promijeniti i ravnoteža te će to utjecati na ključne kemijske i biološke procese. Čovjek je jedan od važnijih modifikatora okoliša. Nastavi li se trend povećanja emisije CO2 doći će do ozbiljnih poremećaja u morskom ekosistemu. Mogle bi nestati vrste koje igraju važnu ulogu u hranidbenim mrežama, poremetio bi se život i produkcija fitoplanktona, došlo bi do nestanka koraljnih grebena, a sve to dovelo bi do nepovratnih promjena u morskom okolišu i dramatičnih posljedica za čovječanstvo.Ocean acidification is a process that occurs due to an increase in carbon dioxide concentration in the oceans, which leads to lower pH values. It largely depends on the concentration of carbon dioxide in the ocean, but it can be enhanced by other factors, such as the process of nitrification and temperature rise. Due to global warming, ocean acidification has particularly intrigued scientists and general public for the last few years. This work presents the overview of studies made about the impact of ocean acidification on some key groups of marine organisms. Because of the foreseen increase of pH concentration in the sea, a special attention was paid to the process of calcification in organisms that encrust calcium carbonate (plankton, corals, echinoderms, molluscs and crustaceans) and beside that, the problems that non-calcifying organisms face, such as fishes, were addressed. Macroalgae were also discussed. Scientists have noticed that different organisms react differently to ocean acidification, but they all agreed that, with the decrease of pH concentration in the oceans and world seas, the balance will be changed, and that will impact key chemical and biological processes. Man is one of the most important environmental modifiers. If the trend of increasing CO2 emission continues, it will cause serious disturbances in the marine ecosystem. Species that play important roles in food webs could disappear, the life and production of phytoplankton would be disrupted, there would be no more coral reefs, and all this would lead to irreversible changes in the marine environment and dramatic consequences for humanity

Impact of ocean acidification on marine organisms

Zakiseljavanje mora je proces koji se događa zbog porasta koncentracije ugljikovog dioksida u oceanima, što dovodi do snižavanja pH vrijednosti. Ono u velikoj mjeri ovisi o koncentraciji ugljikovog dioksida u oceanima, no mogu ga pospješiti i drugi faktori, kao što su proces nitrifikacije i porast temperature. Zbog globalnog zatopljivanja zakiseljavanje mora je posljednjih godina posebno zainteresiralo znanstvenike i širu javnost. U ovom radu napravljen je pregled do sada proučenih utjecaja zakiseljavanja mora na neke od ključnih skupina morskih organizmima. U svjetlu povećanja koncentracije pH u moru sagledan je proces kalcifikacije kod organizama koji ugrađuju kalcijev karbonat u svoje tijelo (planktonski organizmi, koralji, bodljikaši, mekušci i rakovi), a uz to obrađeni su problemi koji se javljaju u organizama koji ne kalcificiraju, kao što su ribe. Posebno su obrađene i makroalge. Znanstvenici su primijetili da različiti organizmi različito reagiraju na zakiseljavanje, no svi se slažu da se sa smanjenjem pH vrijednosti oceana i svjetskih mora promijeniti i ravnoteža te će to utjecati na ključne kemijske i biološke procese. Čovjek je jedan od važnijih modifikatora okoliša. Nastavi li se trend povećanja emisije CO2 doći će do ozbiljnih poremećaja u morskom ekosistemu. Mogle bi nestati vrste koje igraju važnu ulogu u hranidbenim mrežama, poremetio bi se život i produkcija fitoplanktona, došlo bi do nestanka koraljnih grebena, a sve to dovelo bi do nepovratnih promjena u morskom okolišu i dramatičnih posljedica za čovječanstvo.Ocean acidification is a process that occurs due to an increase in carbon dioxide concentration in the oceans, which leads to lower pH values. It largely depends on the concentration of carbon dioxide in the ocean, but it can be enhanced by other factors, such as the process of nitrification and temperature rise. Due to global warming, ocean acidification has particularly intrigued scientists and general public for the last few years. This work presents the overview of studies made about the impact of ocean acidification on some key groups of marine organisms. Because of the foreseen increase of pH concentration in the sea, a special attention was paid to the process of calcification in organisms that encrust calcium carbonate (plankton, corals, echinoderms, molluscs and crustaceans) and beside that, the problems that non-calcifying organisms face, such as fishes, were addressed. Macroalgae were also discussed. Scientists have noticed that different organisms react differently to ocean acidification, but they all agreed that, with the decrease of pH concentration in the oceans and world seas, the balance will be changed, and that will impact key chemical and biological processes. Man is one of the most important environmental modifiers. If the trend of increasing CO2 emission continues, it will cause serious disturbances in the marine ecosystem. Species that play important roles in food webs could disappear, the life and production of phytoplankton would be disrupted, there would be no more coral reefs, and all this would lead to irreversible changes in the marine environment and dramatic consequences for humanity

ClimateFish: A Collaborative Database to Track the Abundance of Selected Coastal Fish Species as Candidate Indicators of Climate Change in the Mediterranean Sea

Under the effects of global warming, many animals and plants are undergoing rapid distribution shifts. These changes can be particularly rapid in marine fishes, and many species have responded markedly to recent increases in sea temperature. ClimateFish is an open-access database, which collates abundance data for 7 Mediterranean indigenous and 8 non-indigenous fishes, proposed as candidate indicators of climate change. These species have been selected by a network of Mediterranean scientists based on their wide distribution, responsiveness to temperature conditions and easy identification. Data are periodically collected according to a standard visual census protocol in four different depth layers. At present, the database collates data on a total number of 101'771 observed individuals belonging to the 15 target species. Counts were realized along 3142 transects carried out in 7 Mediterranean countries between 2009 and 2021. This database, associated with climate data, offers new opportunities to investigate spatiotemporal effects of climate change and to test the effectiveness of each selected indicator. Data are available at https://doi.org/10.17882/86784.The Mediterranean ClimateFish initiative was initially conceived by the international basin wide monitoring program CIESM Tropical Signals (funded by the Albert II of Monaco Foundation) and subsequently supported by the Interreg Med Programme (Projects: MPA-ADAPT, grant number 1MED15_3.2_M2_337 and MPA Engage, grant number 5MED18_3.2_M23_007), 85% co funded by the European Regional Development Fund

Baseline levels of plastic litter in marine water sediments: Telašćica Bay and Aeolian archipelago

Park prirode Telašćica i Eolski arhipelag su izuzetno zanimljiva područja . Unatoč njihovim razlikama, povezuje ihstatus područja pod posebnom morskom zaštitom te iznimna bioraznolikost. Provedenim istraživanjem određene su količine plastičnog materijala u plitkomorskim sedimentima Uvale Telašćica i u sedimentima na 30 m dubine na području Eolskog Arhipelaga. Rađene su kvalitativne i kvantitativne analize mikro, mezo i makroplastike pronađene u uzorcima i granulometrijske analize sedimenta. Napravljena je usporedba s postojećim podacima i postavljena su nova pitanja za buduća istraživanja. Ukupno je analizirano 11056.4 g sedimenta od kojih je 3276.4 g iz Parka prirode Telašćica i 7780.0 g s Eolskog arhipelaga. U uzorcima iz Hrvatske pronađeno je 878 plastičnih čestica, u prosjeku 29 čestica po uzorku dok je u Italiji pronađeno 2645 plastičnih čestica, u prosjeku 80 čestica po uzorku. U ukupnoj količini izoliranog materijala iz oba istraživanja, s obzirom na oblik, dominirali su filamenti dok su boja i veličinska klasa bile varijabilne.Nature Park of Telašćica and Aeolian archipelago are important areas of great biodiversity, one with a current (Telašćica) and the other with a future (Aeolie) status of Marine protected area (MPA). In both areas survey was conducted to determine the total amount of plastic materials present in marine sediments. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of micro-, meso-, and macro- plastics and granulometric composition analysis were made. Results were compared with existing data, opening new questions for future investigations. A total amount of 11.056.4 g of sediment was analysed, respectively 3.276.4 from Telašćica bay and 7.780.0 g form Aeolian archipelago. A total amount of 878 plastic items were found in Croatian samples (29 plastic items per sample) and a total amount of 2645 plastic items were found in sediments for the Italian archipelago (80 plastic items per sample). According to shape, in all analysed material, filaments were the most abundant, while according to colour and size the results were variable

Microparticles in Table Salt: Levels and Chemical Composition of the Smallest Dimensional Fraction

This study evaluates the chemical composition of microplastic materials (MPs) and non-synthetic particles in different table salts of marine origin by the µFT-IR technique. This research focuses on the microparticles fraction within 10–150 µm of size. Eleven commercial trademarks coming from Italy (IT = 6) and Croatia (CRO = 5) were grouped in two different cost ranges, cheap (n = 5) and expensive (n = 6) and were analysed in replicates (n = 3). Levels and chemical composition of microparticles measured in commercial products were correlated on a statistical basis to some factors of variability of potential scientific interest (geographical origin of marine salt, cost of commercial products, etc.). Results of analyses performed on the tested size fraction of microparticles (10–150 µm) evidence that: (i) levels of MPs are within 0.17–0.32 items/g (IT) and 0.07–0.20 items/g (CRO); (ii) non-synthetic particles detected are mostly made by fibres made of cellulose acetate; (iii) Nations show a different chemical composition of MPs recovered in analysed trademarks (PET and PVC from Italy; PA, PP, and nylon from Croatia); (iv) the annual amount ingested by humans from marine salt consumption ranges between 131.4–372.3 items/y (CRO) and 306.6–580.35 items/y (IT) considering a dose of 5 g of salt per day; (v) statistics performed on factors of interest evidenced that the geographical origin of marine salt do not affect neither levels nor chemical composition of MPs in tested trademarks; while slight correlations are recorded with non-synthetic particles. Further studies are needed to better explore on statistical basis if both levels and chemical composition of MPs in table salts of marine origin can be used or not as good indicators of marine pollution

Plastic litter transfer from sediments towards marine trophic webs: A case study on holothurians

This study estimates for the very first time plastic litter levels in sea cucumbers (Echinodermata, Holothuroidea) sampled in situ and their intakes from sediments in three different rocky bottom habitats (slides, cliff, banks) settled in Salina Island (Aeolian Archipelago). Macroplastic were never recorded while meso- and microplastics were identified in all sediment (81–438 items/kg d.w.) and animal samples (1.8–22 items/ind.). Plastic intakes by sea cucumbers resulted frequently associated to the size range included within 100–2000 μm. Over than 70% of ingested plastic litter is represented by the size fraction >500 μm. Sediment/animals ratios % are included 2.7 ± 2.0% in studied habitats with a selective intake of fragments occurring in slides. Furthermore, results support the occurrence of selective ingestion of plastic litter by holothurians in natural environments underlining the role of these species in microplastic transfer from abiotic towards biotic compartments of the marine trophic web

Action of Surfactants in Driving Ecotoxicity of Microplastic-Nano Metal Oxides Mixtures: A Case Study on <em>Daphnia magna</em> under Different Nutritional Conditions

The series of experiments presented in the paper served to clarify the effects of contemporary exposure to surfactant, microplastics (polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride), and nanoparticles (TiO2 and ZnO) on the model organism Daphnia magna. Exposure was evaluated with respect to the age of the organisms (“young”, 24 hours old, and “aged” 10 days old specimens), trophic status (feeding or fasting), and the simultaneous presence of a surfactant. All the above-mentioned substances are present in the wastewater coming from various environmental sources from cosmetic products. The experiments were conducted in compliance with the OECD 202:2004 guideline, which is also a reference for ecotoxicity tests required by REACH. The results showed that surfactants enhance effects of toxicity produced by the exposure to the microplastic + nanoparticle mixtures. The influence due to factors such as nutrition (effect in fasting >> feeding conditions) and the age of individuals (effects in older >> younger animals) is essential. Concerning young individuals, exposure to PE-TiO2 is the most significant in terms of effects produced: it is very significant, especially in the presence of surfactant (both under fasting and feeding conditions). On the contrary, exposure to the PE-Zn mixture shows the minor effects. The comparison with the literature, especially as regards the possibility of interpreting the toxicity trends for the various mixtures with respect to the individual elements that compose them, leads to hypothesize additive effects still to be investigated and confirms the greatest toxicity contribution of TiO2

Plastic litter in sediments from a marine area likely to become protected (Aeolian Archipelago's islands, Tyrrhenian sea)

This research aims to define for the first time levels and patterns of different litter groups (macro, meso and microplastics) in sediments from a marine area designed for the institution of a new marine protected area (Aeolian Archipelago, Italy). Microplastics resulted the principal group and found in all samples analyzed, with shape and colours variable between different sampling sites. MPs levels measured in this study are similar to values recorded in harbour sites and lower than reported in Adriatic Sea, while macroplastics levels are notably lower than in harbor sites. Sediment grain-size and island extent resulted not significant in determining levels and distribution of plastic debris among islands. In the future, following the establishment of the MPA in the study area, these basic data will be useful to check for potential protective effects on the levels and distribution of plastic debris

MPA-ADAPT project - Guiding Mediterranean MPAs through the climate change era: building resilience and adaptation

High Level Scientific Conference : From COP21 towards the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), 10-11 September 2018, Pari