Is Ocean Acidification Really a Threat to Marine Calcifiers? A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of 980+ Studies Spanning Two Decades

Ocean acidification is considered detrimental to marine calcifiers, but mounting contradictory evidence suggests a need to revisit this concept. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to critically re-evaluate the prevailing paradigm of negative effects of ocean acidification on calcifiers. Based on 5153 observations from 985 studies, many calcifiers (e.g., echinoderms, crustaceans, and cephalopods) are found to be tolerant to near-future ocean acidification (pH ≈ 7.8 by the year 2100), but coccolithophores, calcifying algae, and corals appear to be sensitive. Calcifiers are generally more sensitive at the larval stage than adult stage. Over 70% of the observations in growth and calcification are…

• UO
  University of Adelaide
• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Award: 42176199
• CP
  China Postdoctoral Science Foundation

  Award: 2019M663419
• AR
  Australian Research Council

  Award: LP200201000
• FR
  Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

  Award: SWU118105