Water

Coral reefs are the largest bioconstructions on the planet. They underpin ocean biodiversity, protect coastlines from flooding and support the livelihoods of millions of people in diverse communities around the world relying on fishing and tourism. Most of these ecosystem services arise from the 3D skeletons of the stony corals. These colonial organisms use calcium and carbon naturally present in seawater to make the CaCO3 mineral aragonite. To do this they act as chemists and alter the chemical composition of the seawater to favour the formation of this mineral. The stony corals, and the reefs they construct, are under threat from ocean warming and acidification occurring from the actions of humanity. What the future holds for these organisms depends crucial on how good they are at manipulating their environment to continue to grow their skeletons as the climate changes around them. In this talk I will summarise what is know about the processes involved in coral skeleton formation, how we know this, and how we can use this information to better protect this unique and critically endangered marine ecosystem.

Sea level rise is the most certain and the most costliest consequence of climate change. Over the last 150 years sea levels have risen by around 25cm but are projected to increase by up to 1m or more this coming century with enormous consequences for communities in low-lying coastal regions. In this talk, Ivan will describe the latest science on sea-level rise. He will discuss how rates of sea-level rise have changed over the last 150 years, and highlight how rates of rise are currently accelerating globally. He will then describe what has caused sea-levels to rise and accelerate in recent decades, driven by thermal expansion, glacier and ice sheet mass loss and terrestrial water storage. He will then discuss the impact of sea level rise for small island states, densely populated deltas, coastal cities and world heritage sites. 

Do you ever think about fish beyond your fish and chips? But maybe you worry about the future in light of global change? Let me tell you how the two are related, and why fisheries science has all the answers!!!