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

•Coral

contain collagen

•Through

ascorbic acid supplementation Collagen production can be

Coral Bleaching

Bleached Healthy

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

CO2

Ocean Acidification + HO H CO

•The

2

2 3

3

+ HCO absorbs 50-90%

ocean anthropogenic CO2

H

of

•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 most insidious and pervasive

“The threat to life in the oceans Reduced calcification rates everywhere” for calciferous marine -Jane Lubchenco organisms

•

•Destruction reefs

•Disruption food web

•Die-off

of the coral of the oceanic

of calciferous phytoplankton

Calcification

•To •

Purposes

determine whether CO2 could be processed through photosynthesis by marine algaes, and and allow the pH level to remain at a higher To determine whether level ascorbic acid could increase calcification rates in calciferous algaes when exposed to an acidifying environment

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 3 carbonate CaCO

•Collagen is present in •Production of collagen

coral

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 CO Levels 2

CO2 Without C. spiralis CO2 With C. spiralis

Results: N. oculata pH Levels

CO2 Without N. oculataCO2 With N. oculata

Results: N. oculata CO Levels 2

CO2 Without N. oculataCO2 With N. oculata

•The

Conclusion average pH of the CO

2

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 2.63.5 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

rrent Method to Increase Calcificati

Electrified Reefs

Applications Ascorbic Acid Supplementation

Applications Ascorbic Acid Supplementation

Further Research

Isolating the Calcification Gene

Gel Electrophoresis

Questions?