Decreased pH does not alter metamorphosis but compromises juvenile calcification of the tube worm Hydroides elegans

Ackley C. Lane,Joy Mukherjee,Vera B. S. Chan,Vengatesen Thiyagarajan

doi:10.1007/s00227-012-2056-9

Ackley C. Lane, Joy Mukherjee + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-2056-9

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Journal: Marine biology	Publication Date: Sep 11, 2012
Citations: 93	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: University of Hong Kong

Abstract

Using CO2 perturbation experiments, we examined the pre- and post-settlement growth responses of a dominant biofouling tubeworm (Hydroides elegans) to a range of pH. In three different experiments, embryos were reared to, or past, metamorphosis in seawater equilibrated to CO2 values of about 480 (control), 980, 1,480, and 2,300 μatm resulting in pH values of around 8.1 (control), 7.9, 7.7, and 7.5, respectively. These three decreased pH conditions did not affect either embryo or larval development, but both larval calcification at the time of metamorphosis and early juvenile growth were adversely affected. During the 24-h settlement assay experiment, half of the metamorphosed larvae were unable to calcify tubes at pH 7.9 while almost no tubes were calcified at pH 7.7. Decreased ability to calcify at decreased pH may indicate that these calcifying tubeworms may be one of the highly threatened species in the future ocean.

Highlights

Carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by anthropogenic activity is absorbed by the ocean, reducing the seawater pH and carbonate chemistry that can adversely affect marine organisms, especially calcifiers, many of which are ecological keystones and/or economically important (Widdicombe and Spicer 2008; Doney et al 2009; Byrne 2011).Communicated by S
Using CO2 perturbation experiments, we examined the pre- and post-settlement growth responses of a dominant biofouling tubeworm (Hydroides elegans) to a range of pH
This study clearly demonstrates that metamorphosing larvae of the tubeworm, Hydroides elegans, suffer greatly at pH levels projected to occur in the coming century

Summary

Introduction

Carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by anthropogenic activity is absorbed by the ocean, reducing the seawater pH and carbonate chemistry that can adversely affect marine organisms, especially calcifiers, many of which are ecological keystones and/or economically important (Widdicombe and Spicer 2008; Doney et al 2009; Byrne 2011).Communicated by S. Carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by anthropogenic activity is absorbed by the ocean, reducing the seawater pH and carbonate chemistry that can adversely affect marine organisms, especially calcifiers, many of which are ecological keystones and/or economically important (Widdicombe and Spicer 2008; Doney et al 2009; Byrne 2011). The majority of sessile marine invertebrates have pelagic larvae specialized for dispersal and the colonization of new habitats. Planktonic larvae are largely dependent on the pelagic environment to provide the appropriate conditions for growth, that is, any given environmental parameter (e.g., temperature, salinity, pH, and food availability) can turn stressful if conditions are outside larval tolerance ranges (Qiu and Qian 1997). The metamorphic process is the pinnacle of the larval phase and as such depends on, and can be affected by, the larval experience up until that point (Thiyagarajan 2010)

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