The Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

2027 Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

January 12-15, 2027

Resilience to Alkalinity Perturbations Reveals Ecosystem Stability under Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement
ID:849 Oral Presentation

2027-01-14 15:20 (China Standard Time)

Session:Session 36 - Assessing the Environmental Impacts of Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal Techniques

Abstract
Ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) is a leading climate mitigation strategy for atmospheric carbon dioxide removal, with theoretical potential to sequester gigatons of CO2 annually while counteracting ocean acidification. Yet, as a deliberate anthropogenic perturbation to the marine carbonate system, the ecological consequences for the microbial communities that underpin marine biogeochemical cycles remain incompletely understood. Alterations in seawater pH and carbonate saturation states could influence microbial assemblages, with implications for ecosystem functioning and stability under global climate change. In this study, we experimentally assessed the responses of marine prokaryotic communities to unequilibrated alkalinity additions (85–495 µmol kg-1) using Mg(OH)2 in the subtropical South China Sea. Across both microcosm (55 L) and mesocosm (50,000 L) scales during the wet and dry seasons, a total alkalinity increase of 80–427 µmol kg-1 substantially elevated pH (8.57–8.77) and carbonate saturation states. Despite these pronounced chemical perturbations, the prokaryotic diversity, community structure, and predicted metabolic functions remained remarkably stable. This stability persisted across different experimental scales and contrasting seasonal conditions. Instead, seasonal variability and nutrient availability were the dominant drivers of microbial community shifts, overwhelming the minor effects of alkalinity addition. Our findings align with recent studies from the North Atlantic and the Equatorial Pacific, suggesting that the resilience of prokaryotic communities to moderate, unequilibrated OAE is a robust, globally relevant phenomenon. This study emphasizes that even under relatively intense OAE scenarios, microbial community stability may help sustain ecosystem functioning amid emerging ocean-based carbon dioxide removal interventions, a key finding for developing effective Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) frameworks.
Speaker
Yuanhao Liu Southern University of Science and Technology

Author
Yuanhao Liu Southern University of Science and Technology

    Important Dates

    • Jan 30

      2026

      Session / Event proposals open

    • Mar 31

      2026

      Session / Event proposals close
      (Extended to April 7)

    • Apr 30

      2026

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    • Apr 30

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    • Jun 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions close
      (Extended to July 21)

    • Aug 31

      2026

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    • Sep 15

      2026

      Scientific program released

    • Oct 15

      2026

      Early bird registration closes

    • Jan 12–15

      2027

      XMAS 2027