CIAM 6117 Pre-proposal presentation by: Yamilis Ocasio, Rohit Sharma,

1. Effect of Ocean Acidification on Tropical
Marine Ecosystems Biodiversity due to
Global Climate Change
Dérilus Dieunel
Noelia Aponte
Rohit Sharma
Yamilis Ocasio

2. Background and Project Relevance
Introduction
 The recent increase in greenhouse gasses due to
human activities is the main cause for global climate
change.
 The rise of ocean acidification due to climate change
could have significant effects in tropical marine
ecosystems biodiversity.
 The slow growth and adaptation of organisms in
some marine ecosystems makes them vulnerable to
the impacts of climate change.

3. Background and Project Relevance
Problem
 Thereis a need to describe the effects of
ocean acidification due to climate change
over the biodiversity of major tropical
marine ecosystems that offer diverse
economic and ecological values.

4. Project Description
Hypothesis
 The effect of ocean acidification due to
climate change on the biodiversity of major
tropical marine ecosystems would be
detriment. We expect less species richness and
diversity. The loss of biodiversity is expected
to affect the economic and ecological
services.

5. Project Description
Main Goal
 Determine and describe in detail the
effects that different concentrations of
ocean acidity could have over the
biodiversity of three major tropical marine
ecosystems to understand how it is
affected by climate change.

6. Project Description
Objectives
Laboratory scale
 Create three tropical marine ecosystems: coral reefs,
mangroves and sea grasses.
 Describe the effect of each level of acidity in the
richness and biodiversity of three tropical marine
ecosystems.
Global scale overview
 Detail description of anthropogenic activities on
tropical marine ecosystems that could potentially
increase ocean acidification.

7. Methodology
• Ecosystems: Coral Reef, Mangrove, Sea Grass
Grow • Three tanks per ecosystem
• Three levels of acidification, including control
Acidify with no acidification.
• Biodiversity and richness
Evaluate • General characteristics

8. Methodology
Laboratory scale
 Construct three different ecosystems at an open
laboratory facility
 Use historical data to obtain average environment
conditions for each tropical marine ecosystem: coral
reefs, mangroves and sea grasses.
 Grow field proportional biodiversity in each pool for
each tropical marine ecosystem: coral reefs, mangroves
and sea grasses.

9. Methodology
Coral Reef Ecosystem (Materials)
 60 gallon acrylic saltwater fish tank
 Sand substrate
 Coral reef samples

10. Methodology
Coral Reef Ecosystem (Procedure)
 Add 6 inches of sand at the bottom of tank.
 Add saltwater to the tank so that the water
covers the sand by a few inches.
 Put the coral reef samples in the tank.

11. Methodology
Coral Reef Ecosystem (Biodiversity)
 Jelly fish
 Mollusks
 Copepod
 Sea urchin
 Dogfish
 Red sea bream

12. Methodology
Mangrove Ecosystem (Red Mangroves)
 Inhabit shallow saltwater areas, swamps and
lagoons.
 In aquariums, the trees stay small but
contain many of the same characteristics as
the larger versions found in nature.
 The root system provide filtration and a
habitat for small organisms that may grow
within the aquarium.

13. Methodology
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/ac/feature/index.php
Mangrove Ecosystem (Materials)
60 gallon acrylic saltwater fish tank
Sand substrate
Red mangrove seed pods
Slender PVC pipes or rigid airline tubes
Grow light or daylight spectrum light

14. Methodology
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/ac/feature/index.php Mangrove Ecosystem (Procedure)
Add 6 inches of sand at the bottom of tank.
Add saltwater to the tank so that the water covers the
sand by a few inches.
Use gardener's tape to attach one to five seed pods to
small diameter PVC pipes.
Stick the PVC pipes with the seed pods into the sand
in the tank.
Remove the PVC pipe from the plants once the roots
begin to grow.
This process could take a few months.

15. Methodology
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/ac/feature/index.php
Mangrove Ecosystem (Biodiversity)
Shrimp
Mangrove crabs
Sponge
Oyster
Mud lobster

16. Methodology
Sea Grass Ecosystem
 Approximately 50 species of sea grass
worldwide, seven reported for Puerto Rico
(Vicente,1992).
 The most common species for Puerto
Rico are S. filiforme, T. testudinum and H.
beaudettei.

17. Methodology
Sea Grass Ecosystem (Materials)
60 gallon acrylic saltwater fish tank
Sand substrate
Seagrass seeds
Biodegradable tape

18. Methodology
Sea Grass Ecosystem (Procedure)
Add 6 inches of sand at the bottom of tank.
Add saltwater to the tank so that the water
covers the sand by a few inches.
Spread the sea grass seeds into the sand.
Allow to grow and add nutrients if needed.

19. Methodology
Sea Grass Ecosystem (Biodiversity)
Rough scallop
Snapping shrimp
Common atlantic slipper snail
Gray seastar
Green sea cucumber

20. Methodology
Laboratory equipment
 LabQuest Environmental Science Deluxe Package
 Include: pH sensor, temperature probe, conductivity
probe, dissolved oxygen sensor, turbidity sensor, CO2
gas sensor, light sensor
 Manufacturer: Vernier
 Deluxe Koralia Wavemaker Controller and Koralia Nano
Controllable Pump
 Description: wave generator
 Manufacturer: Hydor Koralia

21. Methodology
Data collector and analysis
 Powershot D10 Digital Camera
 Description: waterproof, dustproof, shock resistant
 Manufacturer: Canon
 iMac
 Description: 27in, 4GB, 1TB hard drive, 3 MG Intel
Core processor
 Manufacturer: Apple
 SAS System Software

22. Methodology
Acidification Levels
 Level A – Control tank – Cero acidification
 Level B – pH 7.91
 Level C – pH 7.76
 Addition of sulfuric acid in different
concentrations to the pools to reach the different
ocean acidity concentration to be studied.

23. Methodology
Global scale overview
 Evaluate historical data of current anthropogenic
activities and ocean acidification effects on tropical
marine ecosystems: coral reefs, mangroves and sea
grasses.
 Develop future expectations for the rise in ocean
acidification levels and significant consequences on
tropical marine ecosystems: coral reefs, mangroves and
sea grasses.

24. Facilities
 Greenhouses
Agricultural Experiment Station
South Botanical Garden
San Juan, Puerto Rico

25. Anticipated Benefits
Global Impact
 Create awareness of the impacts of global climate
change in coastal areas and tropical marine
ecosystems.
 Promote coral reef, mangrove and sea grass
conservation and restoration plans.

26. Anticipated Benefits
Community Activities
 Organize educational workshops, symposiums and lectures
design to address scientists, students and the community to
inform about the impacts of global climate change.
 Create a committee including scientists, students,
volunteers and community members to evaluate, propose
and apply preventive actions against climate change
impacts in coastal areas.

27. Project Leadership
and Personnel
 Principal Investigator - Loretta Roberson, Ph.D.
 Co-Principal Investigators
 Yamilis Ocasio, M.S.
 Rohit Sharma, M.S.
 Noelia Aponte, B.S.
 Dérilus Dieunel, B.S.
 Assistants
 Francisco Soto
 Luis Villanueva

28. Budget Justification
 First Year
 Travel expenses – boat gas and maintenance, meals
 Grow expenses – 60 gal tanks, samples, seeds, fishes,
nutrients, light sensors
 Laboratory equipment – analytical instruments for
chemical analysis, wave generator, digital cameras
 Chemical substances and fish food
 Data equipment – computer
 Assistants salary
 Indirect costs

29. Budget Justification
 2nd to 5th Year
 Assistants salary
 Fish food
 Publication costs – Research Notes
 Indirect costs

30. Budget Justification
 5th to 10th Year
 Assistants salary
 Fish food
 Workshop and symposium, per year
 Committee
 Publication costs
 Indirect costs