Abstract
Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations have been rising during the past century, leading to ocean acidification (OA). Coastal and estuarine habitats experience annual pH variability that vastly exceeds the magnitude of long-term projections in open ocean regions. Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) reproduction season coincides with periods of low pH occurrence in estuaries, thus we investigated effects of moderate (pH 7.5, pCO2 2260 µatm) and severe OA (pH 7.1, pCO2 5584 µatm; and 6.7, pCO2 18480 µatm) on oyster gametogenesis, fertilization, and early larval development successes. Exposure at severe OA during gametogenesis caused disruption in oyster reproduction. Oogenesis appeared to be more sensitive compared to spermatogenesis. However, Eastern oyster reproduction was resilient to moderate OA projected for the near-future. In the context of projected climate change exacerbating seasonal acidification, OA of coastal habitats could represent a significant bottleneck for oyster reproduction which may have profound negative implications for coastal ecosystems reliant on this keystone species.
Highlights
Atmospheric and oceanic carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations have been rising during the past century due to anthropogenic CO2 emissions
Shell lengths were not significantly different between D-larvae reared at pH 7.5 (79.3 ± 4.8 μm) and pH 7.9 (82.6 ± 3.4 μm). This experiment was designed to assess the responses of Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) reproductive capacity to a moderate level of ocean acidification (OA) predicted for the open ocean by the end of the century, and to two severe OA levels that coastal habitats are currently experiencing during the oyster reproductive season
Moderate acidification did not impact Eastern oyster gametogenesis, fertilization success, or early development of their offspring demonstrating the resilience Eastern oyster reproduction exhibits in response to OA projected for the near-future
Summary
Atmospheric and oceanic carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations have been rising during the past century due to anthropogenic CO2 emissions (combustion of fossil fuels). Inter-annual pH fluctuates from 8.2 down to
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