Elevated CO2 Partial Pressure Research Articles

Effect of CO2 on growth and toxicity of Alexandrium tamarense from the East China Sea, a major producer of paralytic shellfish toxins

In recent decades, the frequency and intensity of harmful algal blooms (HABs), as well as a profusion of toxic phytoplankton species, have significantly increased in coastal regions of China. Researchers attribute this to environmental changes such as rising atmospheric CO2 levels. Such addition of carbon into the ocean ecosystem can lead to increased growth, enhanced metabolism, and altered toxicity of toxic phytoplankton communities resulting in serious human health concerns. In this study, the effects of elevated partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) on the growth and toxicity of a strain of Alexandrium tamarense (ATDH) widespread in the East and South China Seas were investigated. Results of these studies showed a higher specific growth rate (0.31±0.05day−1) when exposed to 1000μatm CO2, (experimental), with a corresponding density of (2.02±0.19)×107cellsL−1, that was significantly larger than cells under 395μatm CO2(control). These data also revealed that elevated pCO2 primarily affected the photosynthetic properties of cells in the exponential growth phase. Interestingly, measurement of the total toxin content per cell was reduced by half under elevated CO2 conditions. The following individual toxins were measured in this study: C1, C2, GTX1, GTX2, GTX3, GTX4, GTX5, STX, dcGTX2, dcGTX3, and dcSTX. Cells grown in 1000μatm CO2 showed an overall decrease in the cellular concentrations of C1, C2, GTX2, GTX3, GTX5, STX, dcGTX2, dcGTX3, and dcSTX, but an increase in GTX1 and GTX4. Total cellular toxicity per cell was measured revealing an increase of nearly 60% toxicity in the presence of elevated CO2 compared to controls. This unusual result was attributed to a significant increase in the cellular concentrations of the more toxic derivatives, GTX1 and GTX4.Taken together; these findings indicate that the A. tamarense strain ATDH isolated from the East China Sea significantly increased in growth and cellular toxicity under elevated pCO2 levels. These data may provide vital information regarding future HABs and the corresponding harmful effects as a result of increasing atmospheric CO2.

A prospective study of the predictors of mortality in acute exacerbation of COPD: an Indian perspective

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality world-wide. In 2011, COPD was the third leading cause of death. The prevalence and burden of COPD are projected to increase over the coming decades due to continued exposure to COPD risk factors. Thus prevention, early detection and prompt treatment of COPD and it’s exacerbations may have an impact on the clinical progression and the risk of hospitalization. This is a prospective study to determine the predictors of mortality in COPD patients hospitalized for an acute exacerbation.Methods: This was a prospective study of 94 patients admitted for acute exacerbation of COPD in a tertiary care hospital over a period of 18 months. After a detailed medical history and physical examination, patient’s blood sample was sent for Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) analysis, a complete hemogram, blood sugar levels, serum albumin levels, blood urea nitrogen levels (BUN), serum creatinin levels, SGPT, SGOT and serum sodium and potassium levels. We then compared these parameters in patients who died with those who survived to determine the mortality predictors. Results: A statistically significant relation was obtained between male gender, smoking history (odd ratio of 1.5), number of pack years (p = 0.029), history of prior admission (odds ratio of 2), longer duration of illness (p = 0.045), elevated blood sugar levels (p = 0.035), hypoalbuminaemia (0.001), hypopnatremia (0.001), respiratory acidosis (0.003), elevated partial pressure of CO2 (0.001) and mortality.Conclusions: We found a male preponderance, with increase in mortality with the increase in the number of smoking pack years. Longer duration of illness was also an important predictor of mortality. Respiratory acidosis, hyponatremia, elevated blood sugar levels and hypoalbuminemia at the time of presentation were other important predictors of mortality in patients hospitalized for acute exacerbation of COPD.

Physiological effects of short- and long-term exposure to elevated carbon dioxide on a freshwater mussel,Fusconaia flava

Zones of elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) have the potential to deter the movement of fishes. Should CO2be used as a barrier, non-target organisms, such as freshwater mussels, have the potential to be impacted. In this study, the physiological responses of adult Fusconaia flava exposed to elevated partial pressures of CO2(pCO2) over both short-term (6 h exposure with 6 h recovery) and long-term (4-, 8-, and 32-day exposure) periods were measured. A 6 h exposure to either ∼15 000 μatm (1 atm = 101.325 kPa) or ∼200 000 μatm caused an elevation in hemolymph Ca2+. Exposure to ∼200 000 μatm resulted in a decrease in hemolymph Cl−, and exposure to ∼15 000 μatm caused an increase in hemolymph Na+, whereas ∼200 000 μatm caused a decrease. Exposure to elevated pCO2for long-term periods caused a decrease in hemolymph Mg2+and an initial increase in hemolymph Ca2+. Body condition and hemolymph glucose were not significantly influenced by elevated pCO2for both experiments. This study shows that elevated pCO2had limited impacts on the physiological responses of adult freshwater mussels.

The response of two species of unionid mussels to extended exposure to elevated carbon dioxide

Changes in environmental conditions can act as stressors, with potential consequences for the health and fitness of organisms. Rising levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) is one potential environmental stressor that is occurring more frequently in the environment and can be a stressor for aquatic organisms. In this study, the physiological responses of two species of unionid mussel, Lampsilis siliquoidea and Amblema plicata, were assessed in response to exposure to two levels of elevated partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) (~20,000 and ~55,000μatm) over a 28d period, followed by a subsequent 14d recovery period. Observations were consistent with responses associated with respiratory acidosis, as demonstrated by changes in hemolymph HCO3−, Ca2+, Cl−, and Na2+. Both species exposed to elevated pCO2 had elevated hemolymph HCO3– during the pCO2 treatment period compared to control mussels, but recovered once pCO2 was removed. Similarly, both species had elevated hemolymph Na+ during exposure to elevated pCO2, and this returned to control levels for A. plicata but remained elevated for L. siliquoidea once the pCO2 stimuli was removed. Changes in hemolymph Ca2+ and Cl− in response to elevated pCO2 were also observed, but these changes were species-specific. Additional physiological responses to elevated pCO2 (e.g., changes in hemolymph glucose and Mg2+) were consistent with a stress response in both species. This study demonstrates the importance of considering inter-specific differences in the response of organisms to stress, and also that responses to elevated pCO2 may be transient and can recover once the stress is removed.

Exposure to elevatedpCO2alters post‐treatment diel movement patterns of largemouth bass over short time scales

SummaryStudies with marine fishes indicate that exposure to elevated partial pressures of CO2(pCO2) related to climate change have negative consequences for fish behaviour. Freshwater fishes may experience similar increases inpCO2due to a number of different mechanisms, but there is a paucity of information on how freshwater fishes may respond to exposure to elevatedpCO2.To define the effects of elevatedpCO2on a free‐swimming freshwater fish, 19 adult largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) were tagged with acoustic transmitters, held in water withpCO2levels of either ˜10 000 μatm or ambientpCO2(<100 μatm) for 5 days and released into a naturalised, earthen‐bottom pond outfitted with an acoustic telemetry array.Findings indicate that largemouth bass not exposed to elevated levels ofpCO2decreased movement over 35% during the daylight periods; however, fish exposed to elevated levels ofpCO2did not exhibit this pattern. This difference in diel movement patterns between fish exposed to elevatedpCO2and fish not exposed was not detectable after 11 days.Changes in home range size and daily distance travelled were not observed. However, based on an assessment of position estimates after the completion of the telemetry monitoring portion of the study, space use differed for fish exposed to elevatedpCO2.Exposure to elevatedpCO2therefore can have consequences for some movement behaviours of freshwater fish and this may influence a variety of ecological processes including energetics, foraging and predator–prey dynamics. CO2‐induced alterations to behaviour should recover upon a return to ambient water.

Ocean acidification and viral replication cycles: Frequency of lytically infected and lysogenic cells during a mesocosm experiment in the NW Mediterranean Sea

The frequency of lytically infected and lysogenic cells (FLIC and FLC, respectively) was estimated during an in situ mesocosm experiment studying the impact of ocean acidification on the plankton community of a low nutrient low chlorophyll (LNLC) system in the north-western Mediterranean Sea (Bay of Villefranche, France) in February/March 2013. No direct effect of elevated partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) on viral replication cycles could be detected. FLC variability was negatively correlated to heterotrophic bacterial and net community production as well as the ambient bacterial abundance, confirming that lysogeny is a prevailing life strategy under unfavourable-for-the-hosts conditions. Further, the phytoplankton community, assessed by chlorophyll a concentration and the release of >0.4 μm transparent exopolymeric particles, was correlated with the occurrence of lysogeny, indicating a possible link between photosynthetic processes and bacterial growth. Higher FLC was found occasionally at the highest pCO2-treated mesocosm in parallel to subtle differences in the phytoplankton community. This observation suggests that elevated pCO2 could lead to short-term alterations in lysogenic dynamics coupled to phytoplankton-derived processes. Correlation of FLIC with any environmental parameter could have been obscured by the sampling time or the synchronization of lysis to microbial processes not assessed in this experiment. Furthermore, alterations in microbial and viral assemblage composition and gene expression could be a confounding factor. Viral-induced modifications in organic matter flow affect bacterial growth and could interact with ocean acidification with unpredictable ecological consequences.

The role of in hospite zooxanthellae photophysiology and reef chemistry on elevated pCO2 effects in two branching Caribbean corals: Acropora cervicornis and Porites divaricata

Previous studies suggest uniform reductions in coral calcification under ocean acidification (OA); however, greater tolerance has been observed under natural diel metabolic signals present on reefs. In addition, few studies have examined the role of in hospite zooxanthellae energetics on coral OA tolerance. In this study, we examined zooxanthellae photosynthesis and coral calcification responses using seawater with natural metabolic dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) dynamics from a fringing back reef on Little Cayman Island, Caribbean. The experimental design included Acropora cervicornis and Porites divaricata microcolonies grown in continuously flowing seawater with (∼1000 μatm) and without (∼500 μatm) CO2 enrichment to year 2100 predicted levels. Calcification rates were measured weekly, while linear extension and zooxanthellae photosynthesis were determined at the termination of the 28 d experiment. Results showed A. cervicornis microcolonies maintained both photosynthesis and calcification under elevated CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) relative to controls. However, photosynthesis and calcification rates of P. divaricata microcolonies were reduced by ∼80 and 20%, respectively, under relatively high [DIC]:[H+] ratios and aragonite saturation states (Ωarag). Porites divaricata calcification response to elevated pCO2 was linked to photophysiological dysfunction of the algal symbiont, an indicator that this species was metabolically depressed under elevated pCO2. In contrast to calcification, linear extension rates were unaffected by pCO2 in both species. Future studies should investigate how elevated pCO2 may compromise zooxanthellae–coral interactions with an emphasis on DIC uptake pathways.

Identification of Drosophila Zfh2 as a Mediator of Hypercapnic Immune Regulation by a Genome-Wide RNA Interference Screen.

Hypercapnia, elevated partial pressure of CO2 in blood and tissue, develops in many patients with chronic severe obstructive pulmonary disease and other advanced lung disorders. Patients with advanced disease frequently develop bacterial lung infections, and hypercapnia is a risk factor for mortality in such individuals. We previously demonstrated that hypercapnia suppresses induction of NF-κB-regulated innate immune response genes required for host defense in human, mouse, and Drosophila cells, and it increases mortality from bacterial infections in both mice and Drosophila. However, the molecular mediators of hypercapnic immune suppression are undefined. In this study, we report a genome-wide RNA interference screen in Drosophila S2* cells stimulated with bacterial peptidoglycan. The screen identified 16 genes with human orthologs whose knockdown reduced hypercapnic suppression of the gene encoding the antimicrobial peptide Diptericin (Dipt), but did not increase Dipt mRNA levels in air. In vivo tests of one of the strongest screen hits, zinc finger homeodomain 2 (Zfh2; mammalian orthologs ZFHX3/ATBF1 and ZFHX4), demonstrate that reducing zfh2 function using a mutation or RNA interference improves survival of flies exposed to elevated CO2 and infected with Staphylococcus aureus. Tissue-specific knockdown of zfh2 in the fat body, the major immune and metabolic organ of the fly, mitigates hypercapnia-induced reductions in Dipt and other antimicrobial peptides and improves resistance of CO2-exposed flies to infection. Zfh2 mutations also partially rescue hypercapnia-induced delays in egg hatching, suggesting that Zfh2's role in mediating responses to hypercapnia extends beyond the immune system. Taken together, to our knowledge, these results identify Zfh2 as the first in vivo mediator of hypercapnic immune suppression.

Coccolithophore community response to increasing pCO2 in Mediterranean oligotrophic waters

The effects of elevated partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) on plankton communities in oligotrophic ecosystems were studied during two mesocosm experiments: one during summer 2012 in the Bay of Calvi, France, and another during winter 2013 in the Bay of Villefranche, France. Here we report on the relative abundances of coccolithophores versus siliceous phytoplankton, coccolithophore community structure, Emiliania huxleyi coccolith morphology and calcification degree. A pCO2 mediated succession of phytoplankton groups did not occur. During both experiments, coccolithophore abundance and community structure varied with time independently of pCO2 levels. Changes in the community structure were partly explained by the concentration of phosphate during the winter experiment. During the summer experiment, it was not clearly related to any of the parameters measured but possibly to changes in temperature. Phenological changes in the community and an attenuated response due to the low biomass building during the winter experiment could have masked the response to pCO2. E. huxleyi dominated the coccolithophore community in winter; it was not affected by elevated pCO2 at any time. In contrast, the abundance of Rabdosphaera clavigera, the dominant species in summer, increased with time and this increase was affected at elevated pCO2. Thus, a different coccolithophore community response based on species-specific sensitivities to pCO2 is still likely. Finally, elevated pCO2 had no traceable effect on E. huxleyi (type A) coccolith morphology or on the degree of coccolith calcification. Our results highlight the possibility that, in oligotrophic regions, nutrient availability, temperature or intrinsic phenological changes might exert larger constrains on the coccolithophore community structure than high pCO2 does solely.

Effect of ocean acidification on growth and otolith condition of juvenile scup, Stenotomus chrysops.

Increasing amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) from human industrial activities are causing changes in global ocean carbonate chemistry, resulting in a reduction in pH, a process termed "ocean acidification." It is important to determine which species are sensitive to elevated levels of CO2 because of potential impacts to ecosystems, marine resources, biodiversity, food webs, populations, and effects on economies. Previous studies with marine fish have documented that exposure to elevated levels of CO2 caused increased growth and larger otoliths in some species. This study was conducted to determine whether the elevated partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) would have an effect on growth, otolith (ear bone) condition, survival, or the skeleton of juvenile scup, Stenotomus chrysops, a species that supports both important commercial and recreational fisheries. Elevated levels of pCO2 (1200-2600μatm) had no statistically significant effect on growth, survival, or otolith condition after 8weeks of rearing. Field data show that in Long Island Sound, where scup spawn, insitu levels of pCO2 are already at levels ranging from 689 to 1828μatm due to primary productivity, microbial activity, and anthropogenic inputs. These results demonstrate that ocean acidification is not likely to cause adverse effects on the growth and survivability of every species of marine fish. X-ray analysis of the fish revealed a slightly higher incidence of hyperossification in the vertebrae of a few scup from the highest treatments compared to fish from the control treatments. Our results show that juvenile scup are tolerant to increases in seawater pCO2, possibly due to conditions this species encounters in their naturally variable environment and their well-developed pH control mechanisms.

Failure to bloom: Intense upwelling results in negligible phytoplankton response and prolonged CO2 outgassing over the Oregon shelf

AbstractDuring summer, upwelled water with elevated CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) and nutrients outcrops over the Oregon (OR) inner shelf. As this water transits across the shelf, high rates of primary production fueled by the upwelled nutrients results in net atmospheric CO2 drawdown. Upwelled source‐waters typically have pCO2 approaching 1000 µatm that is then reduced to ∼200 µatm. For almost the entire month of July 2008, strong and persistent upwelling brought cold (∼8°C), saline (∼33.5), high‐pCO2 (>600 µatm) water to our midshelf buoy site, and high‐pCO2 water was broadly distributed over the shelf. Chlorophyll levels, as a proxy for phytoplankton biomass, were low (< 2 mg m−3) on the shelf during the period of most intense upwelling, and satellite data showed no evidence of a downstream phytoplankton bloom. A small chlorophyll increase to ∼4 mg m−3 was observed at our buoy site following a decrease in the strength of southward wind stress 10 days after upwelling initiated. Chlorophyll levels further increased to ∼10 mg m−3 only after a cease in upwelling. These higher levels were coincident with the appearance of water masses having temperature and salinity properties distinct from recently upwelled water. We suggest that rapid offshore transport and subsequent subduction before phytoplankton populations could respond is the most likely explanation for the persistent low chlorophyll and elevated surface‐water pCO2 throughout the July upwelling event. This mechanism likely dominates under conditions of strong and persistent upwelling‐favorable winds that coincide with close proximity of low‐density offshore waters, which may have implications for the biogeochemical functioning of this system under future climate scenarios.

Ocean acidification reshapes the otolith-body allometry of growth in juvenile sea bream

The effects of elevated CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) on otolith calcification and on the coupling between somatic and otolith growth were investigated in juvenile gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata. Six-month old individuals were raised during seven weeks under four pCO2 conditions set according to projected future ocean acidification scenarios. Body and otolith biometric parameters were measured throughout the experiment along with the otolith biomineralization monitored using a radiotracer technique based on 45Ca incorporation. Sea bream exhibited somatic growth resilience to all treatments. In contrast, increased growth rate and shape complexity of otoliths were observed with a pHT drop from 8.1 to 7.5. Hypercalcification was observed under lowered pH, with a rate of calcium incorporation increasing by up to 18% between pHT 8.1 and pHT 7.7. This work highlighted an uncoupling of otolith and body growth of juvenile sea bream within 40days at pHT 7.9 projected to be reached by the end of the century. As the otolith is an essential tool used in reconstructing fish life history, this work suggests that information resulting from otolith studies should be interpreted with caution with respect to the potential impacts that ocean acidification projected modifications could have on otolith biomineralization.

Plasticity predicts evolution in a marine alga.

Under global change, populations have four possible responses: ‘migrate, acclimate, adapt or die’ (Gienapp et al. 2008 Climate change and evolution: disentangling environmental and genetic response. Mol. Ecol. 17, 167–178. (doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2007.03413.x)). The challenge is to predict how much migration, acclimatization or adaptation populations are capable of. We have previously shown that populations from more variable environments are more plastic (Schaum et al. 2013 Variation in plastic responses of a globally distributed picoplankton species to ocean acidification. Nature 3, 298–230. (doi:10.1038/nclimate1774)), and here we use experimental evolution with a marine microbe to learn that plastic responses predict the extent of adaptation in the face of elevated partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2). Specifically, plastic populations evolve more, and plastic responses in traits other than growth can predict changes in growth in a marine microbe. The relationship between plasticity and evolution is strongest when populations evolve in fluctuating environments, which favour the evolution and maintenance of plasticity. Strikingly, plasticity predicts the extent, but not direction of phenotypic evolution. The plastic response to elevated pCO2 in green algae is to increase cell division rates, but the evolutionary response here is to decrease cell division rates over 400 generations until cells are dividing at the same rate their ancestors did in ambient CO2. Slow-growing cells have higher mitochondrial potential and withstand further environmental change better than faster growing cells. Based on this, we hypothesize that slow growth is adaptive under CO2 enrichment when associated with the production of higher quality daughter cells.

Suitability of Existing Numerical Model Codes and Thermodynamic Databases for the Prognosis of Calcite Dissolution Processes in Near-Surface Sediments Due to a CO2 Leakage Investigated by Column Experiments

Among the risks of CO2 storage is the potential of CO2 leakage into overlaying formations and near-surface potable aquifers. Through a leakage, the CO2 can intrude into protected groundwater resources, which can lead to groundwater acidification followed by potential mobilisation of heavy metals and other trace metals through mineral dissolution or ion exchange processes. The prediction of pH buffer reactions in the formations overlaying a CO2 storage site is essential for assessing the impact of CO2 leakages in terms of trace metal mobilisation. For buffering the pH-value, calcite dissolution is one of the most important mechanisms. Although calcite dissolution has been studied for decades, experiments conducted under elevated CO2 partial pressures are rare. Here, the first study for column experiments is presented applying CO2 partial pressures from 6 to 43 bars and realising a near-natural flow regime. Geochemical calculations of calcite dissolution kinetics were conducted using PHREEQC together with different thermodynamic databases. Applying calcite surface areas, which were previously acquired by N2-BET or calculated based on grain diameters, respectively, to the rate laws according to Plummer et al. (Am J Sci 278:179–216, doi: 10.2475/ajs.278.2.179 , 1978) or Palandri and Kharaka (US Geol Surv Open file Rep 2004–1068:71, 2004) in the numerical simulations led to an overestimation of the calcite dissolution rate by up to three orders of magnitude compared to the results of the column experiments. Only reduction of the calcite surface area in the simulations as a fitting procedure allowed reproducing the experimental results. A reason may be that the diffusion boundary layer (DBL), which depends on the groundwater flow velocity and develops at the calcite grain surface separating it from the bulk of the solution, has to be regarded: The DBL leads to a decrease in the calcite dissolution rate under natural laminar flow conditions compared to turbulent mixing in traditional batch experiments. However, varying the rate constants by three orders of magnitudes in a field scale PHREEQC model simulating a CO2 leakage produced minor variations in the pH buffering through calcite dissolution. This justifies the use of equilibrium models when calculating the calcite dissolution in CO2 leakage scenarios for porous aquifers and slow or moderate groundwater flow velocities. However, the selection of the thermodynamic database has an impact on the dissolved calcium concentration, leading to an uncertainty in the simulation results. The resulting uncertainty, which applies also to the calculated propagation of an aquifer zone depleted in calcite through dissolution, seems negligible for shallow aquifers of approximately 60 m depth, but amounts to 35 % of the calcium concentration for aquifers at a depth of approximately 400 m.

Metabolic engineering of Propionibacterium freudenreichii: effect of expressing phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase on propionic acid production.

Propionic acid is currently produced mainly via petrochemicals, but there is increasing interest in its fermentative production from renewable biomass. However, the current propionic acid fermentation process suffers from low product yield and productivity. In this work, the gene encoding phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PPC) was cloned from Escherichia coli and expressed in Propionibacterium freudenreichii. PPC catalyzes the conversion of phosphoenolpyruvate to oxaloacetate with the fixation of one CO2. Its expression in P. freudenreichii showed profound effects on propionic acid fermentation. Compared to the wild type, the mutant expressing the ppc gene grew significantly faster, consumed more glycerol, and produced propionate to a higher final titer at a faster rate. The mutant also produced significantly more propionate from glucose under elevated CO2 partial pressure. These effects could be attributed to increased CO2 fixation and resulting changes in the flux distributions in the dicarboxylic acid pathway.

A Limited Role for Carbonic Anhydrase in C4 Photosynthesis as Revealed by a ca1ca2 Double Mutant in Maize

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) catalyzes the first biochemical step of the carbon-concentrating mechanism of C4 plants, and in C4 monocots it has been suggested that CA activity is near limiting for photosynthesis. Here, we test this hypothesis through the characterization of transposon-induced mutant alleles of Ca1 and Ca2 in maize (Zea mays). These two isoforms account for more than 85% of the CA transcript pool. A significant change in isotopic discrimination is observed in mutant plants, which have as little as 3% of wild-type CA activity, but surprisingly, photosynthesis is not reduced under current or elevated CO2 partial pressure (pCO2). However, growth and rates of photosynthesis under subambient pCO2 are significantly impaired in the mutants. These findings suggest that, while CA is not limiting for C4 photosynthesis in maize at current pCO2, it likely maintains high rates of photosynthesis when CO2 availability is reduced. Current atmospheric CO2 levels now exceed 400 ppm (approximately 40.53 Pa) and contrast with the low-pCO2 conditions under which C4 plants expanded their range approximately 10 million years ago, when the global atmospheric CO2 was below 300 ppm (approximately 30.4 Pa). Thus, as CO2 levels continue to rise, selective pressures for high levels of CA may be limited to arid climates where stomatal closure reduces CO2 availability to the leaf.

Pre-hatching seawater pCO2 affects development and survival of zoea stages of Arctic spider crab Hyas araneus

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 501:127-139 (2014) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10687 Pre-hatching seawater pCO2 affects development and survival of zoea stages of Arctic spider crab Hyas araneus Melanie Schiffer*, Lars Harms, Hans O. Pörtner, Felix C. Mark, Daniela Storch Department of Integrative Ecophysiology, Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany *Corresponding author: melanie.schiffer@awi.de ABSTRACT: The sensitivity of marine crustaceans to anthropogenic CO2 emissions and the associated acidification of the oceans may be less than that of other, especially lower, invertebrates. However, effects on critical transition phases or carry-over effects between life stages have not been comprehensively explored. Here we report the impact of elevated partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) values (3100 µatm) in seawater on Hyas araneus during the last 2 wk of their embryonic development (pre-hatching phase) and during development while in the consecutive zoea I and zoea II larval stages (post-hatching phase). We measured oxygen consumption, dry weight, developmental time and mortality in zoea I to assess changes in performance. Feeding rates and survival under starvation were investigated at different temperatures to detect differences in thermal sensitivities of zoea I and zoea II larvae depending on pre-hatch history. When embryos were pre-exposed to elevated pCO2 during maternal care, mortality increased about 60% under continued CO2 exposure during the zoea I phase. The larvae that moulted into zoea II displayed a developmental delay by about 20 d compared to larvae exposed to control pCO2 during embryonic and zoeal phases. Elevated pCO2 caused a reduction in zoea I dry weight and feeding rates, while survival of the starved larvae was not affected by seawater CO2 concentration. In conclusion, CO2 effects on egg masses under maternal care carried over to the first larval stages of crustaceans and reduced their survival and development to levels below those previously reported in studies exclusively focussing on acute pCO2 effects on the larval stages. KEY WORDS: Hyas araneus · Zoea · Larvae · Embryos · Ocean acidification Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Schiffer M, Harms L, Pörtner HO, Mark FC, Storch D (2014) Pre-hatching seawater pCO2 affects development and survival of zoea stages of Arctic spider crab Hyas araneus. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 501:127-139. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10687 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 501. Online publication date: March 31, 2014 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2014 Inter-Research.

Hypercapnia adversely affects postprandial metabolism in the European eel (Anguilla anguilla)

The present study examined the effects of elevated CO2 partial pressure on the specific dynamic action (SDA) and ammonia excretion in European eel (Anguilla anguilla) following forced feeding. Two different hypercapnic scenarios were investigated; one in which pCO2 oscillated between 20 and 60mmHg over 24hourcycles, and one in which pCO2 was constant at 60mmHg. Since high CO2 results in low pH with unchanged alkalinity, a normocapnic group at low pH (pCO2≈3mmHg, pH=6.5) was included to investigate possible direct effects of pH. Constant hypercapnia (60mmHg) and low pH (pH=6.5) both significantly increased the duration of the SDA response by 22% and 29%, respectively. Hypercapnia had no effect on standard metabolic rate, while constant or oscillating hypercapnia significantly lowered the maximum metabolic rate compared to controls, causing a significant reduction of the aerobic scope during constant hypercapnia. Under conditions of oscillating pCO2, the temporal and spatial postprandial increase in ammonia nitrogen excretion was significantly reduced. This group also excreted significantly less ammonia after ingesting a meal. No significant effects on the magnitude or duration of postprandial ammonia excretion were observed at high pCO2 or low pH/normocapnia. The results demonstrate that despite an exceptional tolerance towards elevated pCO2 and acidosis, postprandial metabolic processes of the European eel are adversely affected by hypercapnia and low pH.

Short-term acute hypercapnia affects cellular responses to trace metals in the hard clams Mercenaria mercenaria

Estuarine and coastal habitats experience large fluctuations of environmental factors such as temperature, salinity, partial pressure of CO2 (PCO2) and pH; they also serve as the natural sinks for trace metals. Benthic filter-feeding organisms such as bivalves are exposed to the elevated concentrations of metals in estuarine water and sediments that can strongly affect their physiology. The effects of metals on estuarine organisms may be exacerbated by other environmental factors. Thus, a decrease in pH caused by high PCO2 (hypercapnia) can modulate the effects of trace metals by affecting metal bioavailability, accumulation or binding. To better understand the cellular mechanisms of interactions between PCO2 and trace metals in marine bivalves, we exposed isolated mantle cells of the hard clams (Mercenaria mercenaria) to different levels of PCO2 (0.05, 1.52 and 3.01kPa) and two major trace metal pollutants – cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu). Elevated PCO2 resulted in a decrease in intracellular pH (pHi) of the isolated mantle cells from 7.8 to 7.4. Elevated PCO2 significantly but differently affected the trace metal accumulation by the cells. Cd uptake was suppressed at elevated PCO2 levels while Cu accumulation has greatly accelerated under hypercapnic conditions. Interestingly, at higher extracellular Cd levels, labile intracellular Cd2+ concentration remained the same, while intracellular levels of free Zn2+ increased suggesting that Cd2+ substitutes bound Zn2+ in these cells. In contrast, Cu exposure did not affect intracellular Zn2+ but led to a profound increase in the intracellular levels of labile Cu2+ and Fe2+. An increase in the extracellular concentrations of Cd and Cu led to the elevated production of reactive oxygen species under the normocapnic conditions (0.05kPa PCO2); surprisingly, this effect was mitigated in hypercapnia (1.52 and 3.01kPa). Overall, our data reveal complex and metal-specific interactions between the cellular effects of trace metals and PCO2 in clams and indicate that variations in environmental PCO2 may modulate the biological effects of trace metals in marine organisms.

Interactive effects of elevated temperature and CO2 levels on energy metabolism and biomineralization of marine bivalves Crassostrea virginica and Mercenaria mercenaria

The continuing increase of carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere leads to increases in global temperatures and partial pressure of CO2 (PCO2) in surface waters, causing ocean acidification. These changes are especially pronounced in shallow coastal and estuarine waters and are expected to significantly affect marine calcifiers including bivalves that are ecosystem engineers in estuarine and coastal communities. To elucidate potential effects of higher temperatures and PCO2 on physiology and biomineralization of marine bivalves, we exposed two bivalve species, the eastern oysters Crassostrea virginica and the hard clams Mercenaria mercenaria to different combinations of PCO2 (~400 and 800μatm) and temperatures (22 and 27°C) for 15weeks. Survival, bioenergetic traits (tissue levels of lipids, glycogen, glucose and high energy phosphates) and biomineralization parameters (mechanical properties of the shells and activity of carbonic anhydrase, CA) were determined in clams and oysters under different temperature and PCO2 regimes. Our analysis showed major inter-species differences in shell mechanical traits and bioenergetics parameters. Elevated temperature led to the depletion of tissue energy reserves indicating energy deficiency in both species and resulted in higher mortality in oysters. Interestingly, while elevated PCO2 had a small effect on the physiology and metabolism of both species, it improved survival in oysters. At the same time, a combination of high temperature and elevated PCO2 lead to a significant decrease in shell hardness in both species, suggesting major changes in their biomineralization processes. Overall, these studies show that global climate change and ocean acidification might have complex interactive effects on physiology, metabolism and biomineralization in coastal and estuarine marine bivalves.