Larvae of the pteropod Cavolinia inflexa exposed to aragonite undersaturation are viable but shell-less

• Published in: Marine Biology
• Main Authors: Comeau, S., Gorsky, G., Alliouane, S., Gattuso, J. -P.
• Other Authors: Laboratoire d'océanographie de Villefranche (LOV), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de la Mer de Villefranche (IMEV), Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Observatoire océanologique de Villefranche-sur-mer (OOVM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2010
• Subjects: [SDU.STU.OC]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Oceanography; Ocean acidification
• Online Access: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03502056; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-010-1493-6

Larvae of the Mediterranean pteropod Cavolinia inflexa were maintained at controlled pH(T) values of 8.1, 7.82 and 7.51, equivalent, respectively, to pCO(2) levels of 380, 857 and 1,713 mu atm. At pH(T) 7.82, larvae exhibited malformations and lower shell growth, compared to the control condition. At pH(T) 7.51, the larvae did not make shells but were viable and showed a normal development. However, smaller shells or no shells will have both ecological (food web) and biogeochemical (export of carbon and carbonate) consequences. These results suggest that pteropod larvae, as well as the species dependent upon them or upon adults as a food resource, might be significantly impacted by ocean acidification.