Abstract

The relationship between various experimental concentrations of CO2 and calcification was studied by measuring Ca-45 incorporation into the crystalline matrix. Air containing CO2 at partial pressures (Pc02) of 0.04% to 5.5% was bubbled through synthetic sea water in incubation vessels. The resultant pH values ranged from 8.7 to 6.5. The relative concentrations ofCO2, HCO3 , and CO2— 3 were calculated from the measured ' pH—PCO2 combinations. Calcification was correlated positively with HCO expressed as percent of total carbon. Maximum calcification of about one—third above normal occurred between 0.1% and 1.0% P CCOO22 At 0.26% P calcification increased as increments of NaHCO3 in the range from CO2' 1 to 8 mM were added; this increase did not occur in the killed controls. The data suggest that calcification is controlled by a biological process that may be sensitive to pH and/or to the HCO3 concentration. The data also suggest that an increase in CO2 over the present atmospheric level would significantly increase calcification in this marine alga.

LLU Discipline

Biology

Department

Biology

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

Ariel A. Roth

Second Advisor

Arthur V. Chadwick

Third Advisor

Conrad D. Clausen

Fourth Advisor

Ivan G. Holmes

Fifth Advisor

Elwood S. McCluskey

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

1977

Date (Title Page)

6-1977

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Coralline Algae; Calcification; Carbon Dioxide

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

viii; 54

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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