Evidence of nitrate-based nighttime atmospheric nucleation driven by marine microorganisms in the South Pacific.

Our understanding of ocean-cloud interactions and their effect on climate lacks insight into a key pathway: do biogenic marine emissions form new particles in the open ocean atmosphere? Using measurements collected in ship-borne air-sea interface tanks deployed in the Southwestern Pacific Ocean, we identified new particle formation (NPF) during nighttime that was related to plankton community composition. We show that nitrate ions are the only species for which abundance could support NPF rates in our semicontrolled experiments. Nitrate ions also prevailed in the natural pristine marine atmosphere and were elevated under higher sub-10 nm particle concentrations. We hypothesize that these nucleation events were fueled by complex, short-term biogeochemical cycling involving the microbial loop. These findings suggest a new perspective with a previously unidentified role of nitrate of marine biogeochemical origin in aerosol nucleation.

Responses of a common New Zealand coastal sponge to elevated suspended sediments: Indications of resilience.

Suspended sediments can affect the health of marine benthic suspension feeders, with concomitant effects on community diversity, abundance and ecosystem function. Suspended sediment loads can become elevated through trawling and dredging, and via resuspension of bottom sediments and/or direct input from land during storms. We assessed the functioning (survival, respiration, morphology) of a common New Zealand cushion sponge, Crella incrustans (Carter, 1885), during four weeks of exposure to a gradient of suspended sediment concentrations (SSC). Survival was high, and oxygen consumption was not affected. Sponges did, however, develop apical fistules, a phenomenon never-before observed in this species. Although sediments accumulated internally within the sponges, around a third had cleared these sediments two weeks after the elevated SSCs were removed. The environments these sponges inhabit may predispose them to coping with high SSCs. Such experiments are useful for defining SSC tolerances, which may influence how such impacts can be managed.

In situ response of Antarctic under-ice primary producers to experimentally altered pH.

Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations are contributing to ocean acidification (reduced seawater pH and carbonate concentrations), with potentially major ramifications for marine ecosystems and their functioning. Using a novel in situ experiment we examined impacts of reduced seawater pH on Antarctic sea ice-associated microalgal communities, key primary producers and contributors to food webs. pH levels projected for the following decades-to-end of century (7.86, 7.75, 7.61), and ambient levels (7.99), were maintained for 15 d in under-ice incubation chambers. Light, temperature and dissolved oxygen within the chambers were logged to track diurnal variation, with pH, O2, salinity and nutrients assessed daily. Uptake of CO2 occurred in all treatments, with pH levels significantly elevated in the two extreme treatments. At the lowest pH, despite the utilisation of CO2 by the productive microalgae, pH did not return to ambient levels and carbonate saturation states remained low; a potential concern for organisms utilising this under-ice habitat. However, microalgal community biomass and composition were not significantly affected and only modest productivity increases were noted, suggesting subtle or slightly positive effects on under-ice algae. This in situ information enables assessment of the influence of future ocean acidification on under-ice community characteristics in a key coastal Antarctic habitat.

Broad-scale patterns of tissue-δ15N and tissue-N indices in frondose Ulva spp.; developing a national baseline indicator of nitrogen-loading for coastal New Zealand.

A survey of tissue-δ(15)N and tissue-N values in the green macroalga, Ulva, was conducted around the coast of New Zealand to determine if these indices could be used as indicators of anthropogenic nutrient loading in coastal waters. In addition, data from four case studies showed temporal and spatial responses of tissue-δ(15)N and tissue-N in Ulva to significant terrestrial nutrient inputs. Tissue-δ(15)N in Ulva from 'natural' exposed coastal sites showed a relatively narrow baseline range of values (6.6±0.1-8.8±0.1‰) in both summer and winter that was consistent throughout New Zealand. Departures in Ulva tissue-δ(15)N ratios outside this range, particularly when coupled with high (>3.1%) tissue-N values, indicate significant contributions of terrestrially-derived nitrogen to coastal seawater. We note that tissue-N content is also affected by exposure, light and season; however provided such factors are taken into account Ulva can be a cost-effective indicator of relative changes in both source and amount of nitrogen-loading.

Ocean acidification at high latitudes: potential effects on functioning of the Antarctic bivalve Laternula elliptica.

Ocean acidification is a well recognised threat to marine ecosystems. High latitude regions are predicted to be particularly affected due to cold waters and naturally low carbonate saturation levels. This is of concern for organisms utilising calcium carbonate (CaCO(3)) to generate shells or skeletons. Studies of potential effects of future levels of pCO(2) on high latitude calcifiers are at present limited, and there is little understanding of their potential to acclimate to these changes. We describe a laboratory experiment to compare physiological and metabolic responses of a key benthic bivalve, Laternula elliptica, at pCO(2) levels of their natural environment (430 µatm, pH 7.99; based on field measurements) with those predicted for 2100 (735 µatm, pH 7.78) and glacial levels (187 µatm, pH 8.32). Adult L. elliptica basal metabolism (oxygen consumption rates) and heat shock protein HSP70 gene expression levels increased in response both to lowering and elevation of pH. Expression of chitin synthase (CHS), a key enzyme involved in synthesis of bivalve shells, was significantly up-regulated in individuals at pH 7.78, indicating L. elliptica were working harder to calcify in seawater undersaturated in aragonite (Ω(Ar) = 0.71), the CaCO(3) polymorph of which their shells are comprised. The different response variables were influenced by pH in differing ways, highlighting the importance of assessing a variety of factors to determine the likely impact of pH change. In combination, the results indicate a negative effect of ocean acidification on whole-organism functioning of L. elliptica over relatively short terms (weeks-months) that may be energetically difficult to maintain over longer time periods. Importantly, however, the observed changes in L. elliptica CHS gene expression provides evidence for biological control over the shell formation process, which may enable some degree of adaptation or acclimation to future ocean acidification scenarios.