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The Ulva prolifera bloom is considered one of the most serious ecological disasters in the Yellow Sea in the past decade, forming a carbon sink in its source area within a short period but becoming a carbon source at its destination. To explore the effects of different environmental changes on seawater dissolved carbon pools faced by living U. prolifera in its originating area, U. prolifera were cultured in three sets with different light intensity (54, 108, and 162 μmol m−2 s−1), temperature (12, 20, and 28 °C) and nitrate concentration gradients (25, 50, and 100 μmol L−1). The results showed that moderate light (108 μmol m−2 s−1), temperature (20 °C), and continuous addition of exogenous nitrate significantly enhanced the absorption of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in seawater by U. prolifera and most promoted its growth. Under the most suitable environment, the changes in the seawater carbonate system were mainly dominated by biological production and denitrification, with less influence from aerobic respiration. Facing different environmental changes, U. prolifera continuously changed its carbon fixation mode according to tissue δ13C results, with the changes in the concentrations of various components of DIC in seawater, especially the fluctuation of HCO 3 − and CO 2 concentrations. Enhanced light intensity of 108 μmol m−2 s−1 could shift the carbon fixation pathway of U. prolifera towards the C 4 pathway compared to temperature and nitrate stimulation. Environmental conditions at the origin determined the amount of dissolved carbon fixed by U. prolifera. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the changes in marine environmental conditions at the origin of U. prolifera , providing a basis for scientific management of U. prolifera. [Display omitted] • Moderate light, temperature and nitrate addition boost U. prolifera DIC absorption. • U. prolifera adapts carbon fixation modes to environmental changes. • Origin environmental conditions determine U. prolifera's carbon sink contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ocean acidification threatens many marine organisms, especially marine calcifiers. The only global‐scale solution to ocean acidification remains rapid reduction in CO2 emissions. Nevertheless, interest in localized mitigation strategies has grown rapidly because of the recognized threat ocean acidification imposes on natural communities, including ones important to humans. Protection of seagrass meadows has been considered as a possible approach for localized mitigation of ocean acidification due to their large standing stocks of organic carbon and high productivity. Yet much work remains to constrain the magnitudes and timescales of potential buffering effects from seagrasses. We developed a biogeochemical box model to better understand the potential for a temperate seagrass meadow to locally mitigate the effects of ocean acidification. Then we parameterized the model using data from Tomales Bay, an inlet on the coast of California, USA which supports a major oyster farming industry. We conducted a series of month‐long model simulations to characterize processes that occur during summer and winter. We found that average pH in the seagrass meadows was typically within 0.04 units of the pH of the primary source waters into the meadow, although we did find occasional periods (hours) when seagrass metabolism may modify the pH by up to ±0.2 units. Tidal phasing relative to the diel cycle modulates localized pH buffering within the seagrass meadow such that maximum buffering occurs during periods of the year with midday low tides. Our model results suggest that seagrass metabolism in Tomales Bay would not provide long‐term ocean acidification mitigation. However, we emphasize that our model results may not hold in meadows where assumptions about depth‐averaged net production and seawater residence time within the seagrass meadow differ from our model assumptions. Our modeling approach provides a framework that is easily adaptable to other seagrass meadows in order to evaluate the extent of their individual buffering capacities. Regardless of their ability to buffer ocean acidification, seagrass meadows maintain many critically important ecosystem goods and services that will be increasingly important as humans increasingly affect coastal ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of the aragonite saturation state (Ω arag ) were investigated in the eutrophic coastal waters of Guanabara Bay (RJ-Brazil). Large phytoplankton blooms stimulated by a high nutrient enrichment promoted the production of organic matter with strong uptake of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in surface waters, lowering the concentrations of dissolved carbon dioxide (CO 2aq ), and increasing the pH, Ω arag and carbonate ion (CO 3 2 − ), especially during summer. The increase of Ω arag related to biological activity was also evident comparing the negative relationship between the Ω arag and the apparent utilization of oxygen (AOU), with a very close behavior between the slopes of the linear regression and the Redfield ratio. The lowest values of Ω arag were found at low-buffered waters in regions that receive direct discharges from domestic effluents and polluted rivers, with episodic evidences of corrosive waters (Ω arag < 1). This study showed that the eutrophication controlled the variations of Ω arag in Guanabara Bay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An empirical process model was developed to infer the instantaneous net photosynthesis and carbon fixation rates from continuous pH and dissolved oxygen measurements during microalgal cultivation in photobioreactors. The model is based on the physical and chemical processes that govern the relationship between inorganic carbon supplied to a microalgal culture and the organic carbon fixed into microalgal biomass, with a particular focus on carbonate chemistry and mass transfer. Bayesian statistics were used to estimate the uncertainty in state variables, such as pH, net photosynthesis rate, and bicarbonate ion concentration, based on the constraints imposed by prior knowledge about these variables. The model was verified by batch-culturing the chlorophyte microalga Chlorella vulgaris in a photobioreactor under both bicarbonate-replete and bicarbonate-limiting conditions in order to test its predictive ability under different operational settings. The replicate photobioreactors were set up to simulate a scaled-down vertical cross-section of a typical raceway pond. This model could be used to test the activity and efficiency of carbon concentrating mechanisms in different microalgal species. It also provides a detailed understanding of how the rate of photosynthesis depends on dissolved inorganic carbon concentration, which could lead to better management of carbon supply in large-scale microalgal cultivation facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of different CO2 concentrations on the growth, physiology and ultrastructure of noncalcifying microalga Chaetoceros gracilis F.Schütt (Diatom) were studied. We incubated Ch. gracilis under different CO2 concentrations, preindustrial and current ambient atmospheric concentrations (285 and 385 μatm, respectively) or predicted year-2100 CO2 levels (550, 750 and 1050 μatm) in continuous culture conditions. The growth of Ch. gracilis measured as cell number was decreased by increasing the pCO2 concentration from nowadays concentration (385 μatm) to 1050 μatm. The lowest percentage changes of oxidizable organic matter, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate and silicate were recorded at a higher pCO2 (1050 μatm), and this is in consistence with the lowest recorded cell number indicating unsuitable conditions for the growth of Ch. gracilis. The minimum cell numbers obtained at higher levels of CO2 clearly demonstrate that, low improvement occurred when the carbon level was raised. This was confirmed by a highly negative correlation between cell number and carbon dioxide partial pressure ( r = −0.742, p ≤ 0.05). On the other hand, highest growth rate at pCO2 = 385 μatm was also confirmed by the maximum uptake of nutrient salts (NO3 = 68.96 μmol.l−1 , PO4 = 29.75 μmol.l−1, Si2O3 = 36.99 μmol.l−1). Total protein, carbohydrate and lipid composition showed significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) at different carbon dioxide concentrations during the exponential growth phase (day 8). Transmission Electron Microscopy of Ch. gracilis showed enlargement of the cell, chloroplast damage, disorganization and disintegration of thylakoid membranes; cell lysis occurs at a higher CO2 concentration (1050 μatm). It is concluded from this regression equation and from the results that the growth of Ch. gracilis is expected to decrease by increasing pCO2 and increasing ocean acidification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Vazante Group hosts the Vazante nonsulfide zinc deposit, which comprises high-grade zinc silicate ore (ZnSiO4), and late-diagenetic to epigenetic carbonate-hosted sulfide-rich zinc deposits (e.g. Morro Agudo, Fagundes, and Ambrósia). In the sulfide-rich deposits, hydrothermal alteration involving silicification and dolomitization was related with ground preparation of favorable zones for fluid migration (e.g. Fagundes) or with direct interaction with the metalliferous fluid (e.g. Ambrósia). At Vazante, hydrothermal alteration resulted in silicification and dolomite, siderite, jasper, hematite, and chlorite formation. These processes were accompanied by strong relative gains of SiO2, Fe2O3(T), Rb, Sb, V, U, and La, which are typically associated with the nonsulfide zinc mineralization. All sulfide-rich zinc ores in the district display a similar geochemical signature suggesting a common metal source from the underlying sedimentary sequences. Oxygen and carbon isotope compositions of hydrothermally altered rocks reveal a remarkable alteration halo at the Vazante deposit, which is not a notable feature in the sulfide-rich deposits. This pattern could be attributed to fluid mixing processes involving the metalliferous fluid and channelized meteoric water, which may control the precipitation of the Vazante nonsulfide ore. Sulfide deposition resulted from fluid–rock interaction processes and mixing between the ascending metalliferous fluids and sulfur-rich tectonic brines derived from reduced shale units. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This research characterizes the temporal and spatial variability of the seawater carbonate chemistry on the near-shore waters of the northern Persian Gulf and Makran Sea. In general, normalized total alkalinity (n A T) showed a westward decrease along the coasts of Makran Sea and the Persian Gulf. Intertidal seawater was always supersaturated in terms of calcium carbonate minerals during the daytime. Rocky shore waters in the Persian Gulf were sinks for CO 2 in the winter during the daytime. The n A T decreased from Larak to Khargu Island by 81 μmol/kg. As expected, the two hypothetical drivers of bio-calcification, i.e., Ω and the [HCO 3 −/[H+ ratio, were significantly related at a narrow range of ambient temperature. However, as data were pooled over seasons and study sites, in contrast to Ω Ar , the [HCO 3 −/[H+ ratio showed a slight dependence on temperature, suggesting that the ratio should be investigated as a more reliable factor in future biocalcification researches. • Carbonate chemistry on the near-shore habitats of the northern Persian Gulf was investigated. • Normalized total alkalinity showed a westward decrease along the coasts. • Intertidal seawater was always supersaturated in terms of calcium carbonate minerals, during daytime. • Variations in two hypothetical drivers of bio-calcification were also evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]