Carbon removal strategies, such as ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE), are increasingly recognized as a key component of a coordinated response to climate change. While pilot projects involving OAE are already underway, there have been limited studies investigating how OAE conditions will affect marine fish populations. The larvae of many marine fish spend weeks to months at the ocean surface, where increases in pH will be most acute. At scale, OAE applications could measurably increase seawater alkalinity and pH over broad ocean areas. Fish larvae may be particularly sensitive to these chemical changes, underscoring an urgent need to understand the physiological impacts.
The research team has been developing a fish called the sea robin as a new model organism to investigate the genetic mechanisms behind evolution. Importantly, sea robins live where some of the initial OAE pilot experiments have been performed, making them a highly relevant model for studying the effects of OAE on larval fish. The research group will address two key questions:
- How do short-term increases in pH affect larval development and behavior?
The team will examine whether higher pH changes how larvae grow, move, or respond to their environment. - How do these changes affect gene activity?
By analyzing gene expression, researchers can detect biological stress responses that may not be visible from behavior alone.
By addressing these questions, this project will provide critical data on how OAE could affect an important early life stage of marine fish. The results will help identify safe pH ranges and inform guidelines for responsible OAE deployment.
