Balancing of Ocean Acidification by Superoxide Redox Chemistry?

摘要

Ocean acidification is typically caused by production of carbonic acid (H_2CO_3) through the dissolution of increasing atmospheric CO_2, which adds to CO_2 plus DIC (dissolved CO_2, H_2CO_3, HCO_3~-, and CO_3~(2-) produced in seawater by several processes including biological ones (primary production followed by respiration). Acidification can decrease the saturation states of carbonate minerals, which may considerably endanger the dynamics, structure and biodiversity of coral reefs and other marine calcifying organisms. The consequence is the decline in the early development stages of shellfish, coral reefs, or other marine calcifiers, with impacts on fertilization, sexual reproduction, cleavage, larval settlement, survival and growth, finally causing a substantial population decline. Decline in shellfish or coral reefs, which form the foundation of marine ecosystems, would markedly affect the whole food webs and marine population dynamics.