Degree: Ph.D., Ecology and Ecosystems Science

Advisor: Carol Thornber

Completion date: Summer 2016

Research: Ocean acidification has become the topic-du-jour in climate research. In coastal systems, acidification will be coupled with other environmental factors, like warming, sea level rise, and nutrient loading. It is becoming increasingly important to understand how individual organisms and entire ecosystems are going to respond to the combinations of environmental stressors. I tested the combined effects of ocean acidification and nutrient loading on the growth rates and health of several common seaweed species in Rhode Island, the competition between species, and the responses of herbivores they support. Early results show opportunistic seaweeds increase their growth rates with acidification and nutrient loading while herbivores become stressed out and stop eating. These results could have major implications for the future of coastal ecosystems.