Assessing Ocean and Coastal Acidification Hotspots in the Mid-Atlantic:
Challenges and Opportunities
Teresa G. Schwemmer1, Janet Reimer2, Kirstin Wakefield3, Emily Rivest4
1Mid-Atlantic Coastal Acidification Network; 2Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean; 3Mid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal and Ocean Observing System; 4Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Contact: Teresa.Schwemmer@gmail.com
Carbonate Chemistry
Monitoring
Biological Sensitivity
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Assessing Ocean and Coastal Acidification Hotspots in the Mid-Atlantic:
Challenges and Opportunities
Contact: Teresa.Schwemmer@gmail.com
Locations that are at risk of acidification or acidic conditions, and reasons for risk.
Risk definition varies by location and user application.
pH | Impacts |
7.8 – 8.0 | Reduced growth of hard clam and Eastern oyster larvae. Mortality of sand lance embryos and bay scallop larvae. |
7.6 – 7.8 | Mortality of juvenile lobsters, larval Atlantic cod, bay scallops, hard clams, Eastern oyster. Reduced growth of juvenile sea scallops. |
7.4 – 7.6 | Mortality of juvenile Eastern oyster, summer flounder embryos. Reduced growth of larval squid, adult sea scallops. |
<7.4 | Mortality of larval blue crabs, larval tuna, juvenile hard clams. Reduced growth of adult soft shell clam, larval surf clam. |
Species responses at different levels of acidity (pH)
Sample data layers: annual and seasonal average pH in Delaware Bay. (Data source: Delaware River Basin Commission)
Mean pH – Full year
Mean pH – Jun-Sep