CO2 mediation of adverse effects of seawater acidification in Calcidiscus leptoporus

The coccolithophore Calcidiscus leptoporus (strain RCC1135) was grown in dilute batch culture at CO2 levels ranging from \~200 to \~1600 matm. Increasing CO2 concentration led to an increased percentage of malformed coccoliths and eventually (at \~1500 matm CO2) to aggregation of cells. Carbonate chemistry of natural seawater was manipulated in three ways: first, addition of acid; second, addition of a HCO3 -/CO3 2- solution; and third, addition of both acid and HCO3 -/CO32- solution. The data set allowed the disentangling of putative effects of the different parameters of the carbonate system. It is concluded that CO2 is the parameter of the carbonate system which causes both aberrant coccolithogenesis and aggregation of cells.