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RESEARCH AT MOTE
                                                                      MARINE LABORATORY






                                                                      OCEAN ACIDIFICATION RESEARCH AT MOTE
                                                                Though ocean acidification is an emerging threat,   of ocean acidification. Mote and its partners have
                                                                it has been a focus of Florida Keys-based research   also developed innovations that will help restore
                                                                for over a decade.  There, scientists work to answer   coral reefs in our lifetime with coral genetic strains
                                                                questions that matter to Florida and the world:   most likely to be able to survive changing ocean
                                                                Which corals, shellfish and other life forms will be   temperature and pH for generations to come.
                                                                “losers” or even “winners” amid ocean acidification?   Ocean acidification is a key priority for many
                                                                How will ocean life change — from whole ecosystems   Florida-focused scientists — including those at Mote,
                          OCEAN ACIDIFICATION                   down to the tiny microscopic life forms that affect
    Ocean acidification is a                                    reef health? Will ocean acidification and other   University of Miami, Florida Atlantic University,
                                                                                           University of South Florida, National Oceanic and
    global threat to marine   Florida has the only barrier coral reef along the continental   threats hit harder together? How can we restore   Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Geological Survey
    ecosystems, and Florida   U.S., which helps attract millions of visitors and contributes   dwindling reefs in more acidic waters?    The potential   and many more. Much more can be done to
                                                                And what does ocean acidification
                          about $6.3 billion to Florida’s economy.  Reefs are the ocean’s
                                                                                                provide the scientific basis for restoring,
    scientists should play   “rainforests,” covering less than 1 percent of Earth’s seafloor   mean for our communities?  impacts are complex,  conserving and sustainably utilizing
                                                                                      vary among
    a critical role in better   but supporting roughly 25 percent of marine life, including   Mote Marine Laboratory — a world-  species and pose   healthy marine resources through strategic
                          economically vital fisheries.
    understanding its impacts   Unfortunately, research shows that coral reef organisms —   class, independent marine science   many unanswered   leveraging of their independent efforts into
                                                                                                a coordinated coalition of Florida marine
                                                                institution — is spearheading key
    to our state’s coastal and   including threatened and endangered coral species of the Florida   research using an enhance state-of-the-  questions.    research on ocean acidification impacts to
    marine resources.     Keys — can have a harder time growing and building their calcium-  art ocean acidification system established through a   our marine and coastal ecosystems and habitats.
                          rich skeletons as waters acidify. Lab experiments have also shown   National Science Foundation grant and based at the   Engaging our local communities directly with ocean
                          that ocean acidification conditions can hinder coral fertilization   Mote’s Summerland Key campus. Over the last few   acidification research initiatives is an important
                          and the settlement of coral larvae — two key steps in producing   years, Mote has held three focused workshops on ocean   vehicle for growing the level of understanding by the
                          new “babies” — in the federally protected elkhorn corals. Research   acidification with scientists from across the U.S., and   broader public on the threats of ocean acidification.
                          has also suggested that macro-algae, which compete with corals for   co-sponsored an international workshop on ocean   It is also vital to translate and transfer the findings
                          space, can fare better in more acidic waters.  acidification impacts to coral reefs with partners in   of science to better enable our legislators and
                                                                Israel.  In 2015, Mote co-hosted a 2  international
                                                                               nd
                          Ocean acidification has been shown to have serious — even        community members to lead an effort to raise
                          lethal — impacts on other species, as well. Certain shellfish larvae   workshop for scientists from the U.S., U.K., Cuba, Israel,   awareness and secure public and private funds
                          may fail to build their calcium-rich first shell, which they need   Jordan and Sicily — strengthening Florida’s presence as   to help restore and enhance the resiliency of
                          to attach to a hard surface and mature. In some regions, this is   a world-hub of ocean acidification research.  Florida’s marine resources to the impacts of ocean
                          leading to serious losses of hatchery-raised oysters. More acidic   Mote manages Florida’s Protect our Reefs program,   acidification. Fundraising initiatives for marine
                          water could also affect delicate-shelled mollusks that drift as   which over the last five years has supported 73   research and community research partnerships,
                          marine plankton and serve as food for valuable fisheries and   grants focused on ocean acidification impacts to   like Mote’s Oceans of Opportunity campaign
                          other marine life.                    coral reefs and improving public understanding   (moteoceans.org), are a great place to start.
    MOTE MARINE LABORATORY       1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy  •  Sarasota, FL 34236  •  (941) 388 - 4441       MOTE.ORG  MOTE MARINE LABORATORY       1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy  •  Sarasota, FL 34236  •  (941) 388 - 4441       MOTE.ORG
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