Malays. J. Anal. Sci. Volume 29 Number 2 (2025): 1201

 

Research Article

 

 A simple CO2 enrichment incubator for investigating physiological responses of harmful algae to ocean acidification

 

Yee Qi Teo1, Kieng Soon Hii3, Chui Pin Leaw3, Po Teen Lim3, and Seng Chee Poh1,2*

 

1Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

2 Institute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

3Bachok Marine Research Station, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, 16310 Bachok, Kelantan, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding author: poh@umt.edu.my

 

Received: 11 June 2024; Revised: 21 December 2024; Accepted: 30 December 2024; Published: 27 March 2025

 

Abstract

A CO2 manipulation incubation system using off-the-shelf components was developed to study the effects of ocean acidification (OA) on marine microalgae. The system successfully monitored CO2 concentrations in real time at the desired levels. The incubation experiment was based on the IPCC’s CMIP6 worst-case scenario (SSP5-8.5), with elevated CO2 concentrations of up to 1000 ppm. Under these conditions, exposure to 1000 ppm CO2 significantly increased growth rate, cell diameter, and biovolume of harmful microalgae, Alexandrium tamiyavanichii. These effects were more pronounced, highlighting the potential for ocean acidification to exacerbate harmful algal blooms. The study also emphasized the importance of accounting for light attenuation in the incubation setup, revealing a 20% loss in light within culture bottles due to uneven light distribution. Correcting light intensity variations caused by the materials of the culture vessels was essential for unbiased growth assessments.

 

Keywords: Ocean acidification, CO­2 enrichment, experimental setup, harmful algae, physiological studies

 

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