Coral reefs: Turning back time

摘要: An in situ experiment finds that reducing the acidity of seawater surrounding a natural coral reef significantly increases calcification, suggesting ocean acidification may already be slowing growth. See Letter p.362 Ocean is one several factors projected to threaten ecosystems, but disentangling its effects from other such as temperature difficult. These authors used manipulative which sodium hydroxide was added flowing over community situ. When chemistry restored closer pre-industrial conditions, net calcification increased. This suggests rates are lower than they were times because acidification. Deliberate alkalinization has been proposed geoengineering technique offset acidification, and this work method could effective, only on small scale — protected bays or lagoons, for example.