The Heron Island Climate Change Observatory: An in-situ ocean acidification and carbonate chemistry monitoring platform (2009-2010)

Ocean acidification driven by increasing atmospheric C02 represents a key threat to the GBR. Previous investigations have depended on studies in aquaria that are compromised by reduced ecological complexity and buffering capacity, and problems associated with containment. The infrastructure requested will support the first long-term coral reef in-situ ocean acidification experiment in which the impacts of predicted future C02 concentrations will be studies on an intact coral reef ecosystem. This study will determine the impacts of acidified seawater chemistry on coral reefs from the molecular to the ecosystem level, providing data critical for the management and conservation of the GBR.