Jshs 2009

Ascorbic Acid: A Method for Saving the Reefs Caleb Kruse

Coral Reefs

Coral Reefs

• Biodiversity • 1 in 4 marine organisms are found on reefs

• Medicinal Benefits • Possible cures for cancer, arthritis, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, and more

• Economic Stimulant • The estimated economic net worth of the coral reefs is estimated to be $375 billion

Coral Overcollection Significant Findings

•Ascorbic acid increases the rate of tissue regeneration in fragmented coral

•Coral contain collagen •Through ascorbic acid supplementation Collagen production can be stimulated

Coral Bleaching

Bleached Healthy Reef

Coral Bleaching Significant Findings

•Found a new method for isolating zooxanthellae from coral

•Ascorbic acid greatly reduced the rate of zooxanthellal expulsion

•Proved that zooxanthellae is expelled steadily over time

•Quantified the rate of zooxanthellal

expulsion during heat induced bleaching

Ocean Acidification CO2 + H2O

H2CO3 HCO3

H + +

•The ocean absorbs 50-90% of anthropogenic CO2

•Between 1751 and 1994 the oceanic pH decreased 0.075 pH units

•The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that by 2100 oceanic pH levels will drop another 0.5 pH units

Effects of Acidification “The most insidious and pervasive threat to life in the oceans everywhere” -Jane Lubchenco Reduced calcification rates for calciferous marine organisms

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•Destruction of the coral reefs •Disruption of the oceanic food web •Die-off of calciferous phytoplankton

Calcification

Purposes

•To determine whether CO

could be processed through photosynthesis by marine algaes, and and allow the pH level to remain at a higher level To determine whether ascorbic acid could increase calcification rates in calciferous algaes when exposed to an acidifying environment 2

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Hypothesis •Through the process of

photosynthesis the algaes will be able to convert CO2 thus keeping the pH at a higher level

•In an acidified environment

calciferous algaes will have a higher rate of calcification when supplemented with ascorbic acid

Why Ascorbic Acid?

•Artificially produced collagen

fibrils enhance the crystalization and growth of calcium carbonate CaCO3

•Collagen is present in coral •Production of collagen can be stimulated with ascorbic acid supplementation

Collagen

Nannochloropsis oculata

Chaetomorpha spirallis

Halimeda monile

Udotea flabellum

Procedure Part 1

CO2 Supplementation

Results: C. spiralis pH Levels

CO2 Without C. spiralis

CO2 With C. spiralis

Results: C. spiralis CO2 Levels

CO2 Without C. spiralis

CO2 With C. spiralis

Results: N. oculata pH Levels

CO2 Without N. oculata CO2 With N. oculata

Results: N. oculata CO2 Levels

CO2 Without N. oculata

CO2 With N. oculata

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Conclusion

The average pH of the CO2 supplemented compartment with an algae inside, was 0.5 pH units higher than the compartment without algaes

•Through the process of

photosynthesis, the algaes tested have the ability to convert CO2 before it turns to carbonic acid

Procedure Part 2

Results: Calcification Calcium Uptake

Conclusion •Ascorbic acid increased the rate of calcification by 2.6-3.5 times

•Collagen fibrils in natural

organisms are able to increase the crystallization and growth of calcium carbonate

Applications A different source of acidification

Underwater Hydrothermal Vents

Applications Current Method to Increase Calcification

Electrified Reefs

Applications Ascorbic Acid Supplementation

Applications Ascorbic Acid Supplementation

Further Research Isolating the Calcification Gene

Gel Electrophoresis

Questions?