Philip W. Boyd
NIWA Centre for Chemical and Physical Oceanography, Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

Fri 10 Feb, 14:00 – 14:50
IMAS Sandy Bay seminar room

Abstract:
Research into the biological threat of reduced pH, termed Ocean Acidification (OA), has yielded many insights over the past decade. Moreover, the findings from OA research have been successfully disseminated to a wide audience, extending well beyond the boundaries of the traditional scientific community. There is much to be learnt from the OA community by the fledgling research field which is investigating the effects of global environmental change on oceanic biota. In turn, much of the preliminary research into global environmental change reveals that the interplay of multiple environmental stressors on ocean biota results in either significant amplification or diminution of the effects of a sole stressor, such as OA. Our growing appreciation of how global environmental change will manifest itself in turn lays down the challenge of understanding the complex interplay of a matrix of changing ocean properties and their biological implications. Today, I will present highlights of OA research from our group in New Zealand ranging from fundamental studies to policy outreach.  I will then discuss the significance of OA research within the theme of global environmental change.