The document summarizes various impacts of climate change and ocean acidification on tropical marine ecosystems in Indonesia. It notes that oceans have absorbed over 1/3 of anthropogenic CO2 emissions, leading to ocean acidification, sea level rise, and warming temperatures that affect corals, fish, and other marine life. Studies from Bali show bleaching has killed 60% of corals at one reef and lower pH and higher temperatures reduce coral and algal growth. The document also discusses impacts to blue carbon ecosystems like mangroves and seagrasses, including coastal squeeze from rising seas, changes in hydrology and salinity, and thermal stress. Cumulative impacts are expected to reduce carbon capture and sequestration. Solutions

1. Jamaluddin Jompa
Rohani Ambo Rappe
Abigail Moore
Alan Koropitan
Hawis Madduppa

2. The seas have absorbed around 1/3 of
anthropogenic CO2 emissions to date and
> 90% of the additional “greenhouse
effect” heat trapped à
Ø Ocean acidification
Ø Sea level rise
Ø Rising mean temperatures – surface
and at increasing depths
Ø Changes in weather patterns à more
severe weather, changes in land-sea
interactions, etc
Ø Changes in ocean circulation
Ø Shifting ranges of key biota
Ø For many taxa: changes in size,
behaviour, physiology, reproductive
success, etc...

3. 12 March 2016
22 February 201613 February 2016
May 2015
1 April 2016 8 April 2016
@ Pantai Mengiat, Nusa Dua, Bali
Hutasoit, 2016
Bleaching killed ~ 60% of corals in
Mengiat Reef - Bali

4. Coral & algal growth rate significantly
lower in lower pH & High Temperature
Sahabuddin, Jompa, Tuwo, Rukminasari
(in prep.)

5. Illustration of Slowing Coral Growth:
Osteoporosis due to Ocean
Acidification?

6. Indonesia – Tropical/Equatorial à
Ø Seagrass Meadows
Ø Mangrove Forests
Ø Vast but declining – and many taxa
already close to thermal limits
Multi-faceted links with coral reef and
oceanic ecosystems/biota à
Ø Vulnerable indirectly to coral bleaching
and other impacts on coral reefs (e.g.
reduced calcification/strength)
Ø Relevance of “Fish Carbon” and effects
on marine biota – demersal/coastal
and pelagic

7. Examples of the interactions
between blue carbon ecosystems
and coral reefs which contribute
to, inter alia:
o Carbon flows – and hence
carbon storage and
sequestration
o Nutrient flows – supporting the
biotic processes and
productivity which enable the
carbon flows
Additional interactions with
impacts on blue carbon include
mutual protection from seaward
and landward impacts, natural
and anthropogenic

8. Depending on GCC scenarios, considerable loss of blue carbon ecosystems,
especially mangroves, is predicted this century (10-80%)

9. o Coastal squeeze is likely
to be a major cause of
mangrove loss, including
in much of Indonesia, as
sea levels rise
Other likely impacts:
o Changes in hydrology
and salinity due to
altered rainfall patterns
o Thermal limitations
unlikely, but indirect
impacts from coral loss
o Damage from severe
wind/wave action
o Sedimentation pattern
changes may have
positive or negative
effects on mangroves

10. o Seagrasses themselves probably not much affected by ocean acidification, but many
associated biota may be (e.g. mollusks, echinoderms, fish) à ecosystem services
o Less bioturbation and
less organic carbon
trapped/buried in
substrates
o Climatic changes
mostly unfavourable in
equatorial regions
o Higher temperatures,
changes in ocean
currents, lower O2,
weaker upwellings, etc:
all likely to reduce
primary productivity
o Stresses from extreme
weather, run-off,
changes in salinity &
sedimentation regimes

11. o Sea level rise à loss of seaward extent,
high risk of coastal squeeze to landward:
other ecosystems, infrastructure/other
land-use conflicts, unsuitable substrate,
etc.
v Cumulative impacts à Reduced
carbon capture and carbon burial/
sequestration

12. v Cumulative impacts à Reduced carbon
capture and carbon burial/ sequestration
o Eutrophication: increasing trends in many coastal
waters, likely to be exacerbated by GCC
o OA also predicted to favour algae more than
seagrasses – likely negative synergy

13. o Recent research à marine
vertebrates play several
significant roles in the
global carbon cycle
o marine mammals (e.g. “whale
pump”) and reptiles as well as
Ichthyofauna
“Fish Carbon” underlines the
importance of
o Sustainable fisheries and
rebuilding depleted stocks,
with attention to habitats and
foodwebs
o Protecting endangered
species – for our biosphere
o Preventing marine pollution
o A holistic approach to marine
resource management

14. Indonesian Coral Bleaching
Phenomenon in 2010
Severa Locations of
Coral Bleaching
(April– July 2010)
Aceh
Padang
Karimunjawa ?
Lombok Strait
South Borneo
Pangkep & Makassar
Bone Bay
Buton
Wakatobi
Raja Ampat
Source: Jompa & Yusuf, 2010;
Setiasih et al. (2010)
Suggett et al. (in prep);
Risya et al. (in prep)
June
2010
October
2010

15. GLOBAL THREATS: Ocean Chemistry
CT at greater risk than other areas
MAP 3.4. Threat to Coral Reefs from Ocean Acidification in the Present, 2030, and 2050
ICRS 12-Jompa Plenary 15
2005: 380 ppm CO2
2030s: 450 ppm CO2
Red = marginal
calcification,
Blue = Optimal
Chemistry
Reefs at Risk-
Revisited
2050s: 500 ppm CO2
CT Reefs

16. Reefs at Risk in the Present,
2030, and 2050 for the Countries
of the Coral Triangle Region
è Mostly at high risk in 2050
Source: Burke et al. 2012 / Knight et al. 2012

17. The Status of Reef Health and Coral Diseases
in Eastern Indonesia
High infection rate (up to 5 cm/week)

18. sponge
coral cyanobacteri
a
Is there a link between the SPONGE INVASION and
CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS ?
CLIMATE
CHANGE
beneficial?
detrimental?
beneficial?
detrimental?
OTHER
ANTHROPOGENI
C IMPACTS
complex
ecological
interactio
ns

19. Ø Reduce direct anthropogenic impacts on blue carbon
ecosystems
Ø Active restoration of damaged blue carbon ecosystems
AND neighbouring related ecosystems (coral reefs,
watersheds/other terrestrial)
Ø Identify blue carbon ecosystems at risk of coastal squeeze
and ways to mitigate it (e.g. spatial planning rules to avoid
coastal development that will impede natural migration,
planned retreat measures, etc)
Ø Wise husbandry of our “fish carbon”
Ø Effective action to reduce CO2 and other GHG emissions
from all sectors – without which all other measures are only
delaying tactics!

20. Let’s Work Together…