Last week, we talked to University of Otago scientist Abby Smith about the impact of ocean acidification, caused by rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, on small creatures called bryozoa. This week, marine botanist Catriona Hurd, at the University of Otago, and biogeochemist Cliff Law, at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, discuss the impacts of ocean acidification on marine plants, from microscopic phytoplankton to larger seaweeds.
This nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium, Trichodesmium, lives in the sub-tropical New Zealand waters. Photographer Karl Safi, NIWA.
Catriona Hurd and Cliff Law presented their findings at the Asian Pacific Phycology Forum in Wellington.
