| NSF Org: |
OCE Division Of Ocean Sciences |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | April 9, 2021 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | May 22, 2024 |
| Award Number: | 2049406 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Jayne Gardiner
jgardine@nsf.gov (703)292-4828 OCE Division Of Ocean Sciences GEO Directorate for Geosciences |
| Start Date: | April 1, 2021 |
| End Date: | September 30, 2025 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $381,499.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $513,951.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
FY 2022 = $44,600.00 FY 2024 = $87,852.00 |
| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
6300 OCEAN DR UNIT 5739 CORPUS CHRISTI TX US 78412-5739 (361)825-2730 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 580 Corpus Christi TX US 78412-5844 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY |
| Primary Program Source: |
01002425DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01002122DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT |
| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.050 |
ABSTRACT
Corals build calcium carbonate skeletons to maintain the three-dimensional structure of a coral reef, which provides habitat for many organisms and protects shorelines from bioerosion and storm damage. However, changes in ocean chemistry threaten the ability of corals to build and sustain these ecological important structures. To further the understanding of how climate change impacts coral reefs, this project investigates how changes in ocean carbonate chemistry directly influence coral calcification. The researchers are conducting a series of experiments on corals grown in seawater tanks to study corals responses to seawater chemistry in a changing ocean. Broader impacts of the project include student research opportunities, science-inquiry labs, and virtual learning. This project supports the training of several early career researchers, Ph.D. students, undergraduates, and high school students in the disciplines of chemistry, engineering, and marine ecology. Researchers partner with the Texas State Aquarium to communicate with the general public through a virtual research expedition series that will focus on coral reef health. This series includes interviews, behind the scene tours, and virtual dives on coral reefs in Hawaii.
This project examines the fundamental connections between seawater chemistry and coral physiology by investigating the modulation of seawater chemistry in the microenvironment surrounding corals. Specifically, this project 1) examines the response of corals to differing carbonate chemistry and 2) characterizes the proton gradient across the corals' boundary layers under differing ocean acidification conditions. Results of this work isolate whether carbonate ions or hydrogen ions have a stronger influence on calcification rates. This work utilizes a state-of-the-art experimental mesocosm facility that combines an automated systems to simultaneously and independently control both total alkalinity and carbon dioxide in the tanks to examine coral response under different carbon chemistry scenarios. Small-scale gradients in carbon chemistry surrounding the corals are being characterized using an innovative solid-state, reagentless sensor capable of making simultaneous measurements of two critical carbon system parameters. Coral biological response variables are quantified during short-term incubations and long-term mesocosm manipulations to understand physiological implications across multiple scales (i.e., individual and community scales) and across boundary layers.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
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