2:00 pm
Harte Research Institute
Texas A&M-CC
DISSERTATION PROPOSAL SEMINAR NOTICE
MARINE BIOLOGY PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF LIFE SCIENCES
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-CORPUS CHRISTI
SPEAKER: Eleanor TenBrink
MAJOR ADVISOR: Dr. Keisha Bahr
COMMITTEE: Dr. Hussain Abdulla, Dr. Nicholas Hawco, Dr. Lin Zhang
DATE: Wednesday, October 29, 2025
TIME: 2 p.m.
PLACE: HRI 127, Harte Research Institute, TAMU-CC
ZOOM INFO: Meeting ID: 992 1437 7062
Passcode: 550549
ABSTRACT
Coral reefs are among the most biologically diverse and economically valuable ecosystems on the planet, yet they are increasingly threatened by ocean warming and acidification driven by rising atmospheric CO₂. Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE), a marine carbon dioxide removal strategy, has emerged as a potential tool to both mitigate climate change and support coral reef conservation. By adding alkaline substances to seawater, OAE increases seawater buffering capacity and calcium carbonate availability, counteracting acidification, and potentially promoting coral calcification. But the ecological effects of enhanced alkalinity remain largely unknown and may vary across reef environments, species, and exposure period. Reef systems are highly variable, exhibiting gradients in hydrodynamics, temperature, and seawater chemistry that can influence coral physiological responses over time. Because corals are sensitive to environmental change, understanding their responses to OAE across diverse reef conditions is critical for future management. This research aims to evaluate species- and site-specific responses to OAE to inform management strategies and guide the responsible implementation of alkalinity enhancement as a tool for coral reef conservation.