Anthropogenic CO 2 -mediated freshwater acidification limits survival, calcification, metabolism, and behaviour in stress-tolerant freshwater crustaceans

• Published in: Biogeosciences
• Main Authors: A. R. Quijada-Rodriguez, P.-L. Kuan, P.-H. Sung, M.-T. Hsu, G. J. P. Allen, P. P. Hwang, Y.-C. Tseng, D. Weihrauch
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications 2021
• Subjects: Ecology; QH540-549.5; Life; QH501-531; Geology; QE1-996.5; Ocean acidification
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-6287-2021; https://doaj.org/article/926a15ca4c2a4b1dbb4ed98d1d44223e

Dissolution of anthropogenic CO 2 is chronically acidifying aquatic ecosystems. Studies indicate that ocean acidification will cause marine life, especially calcifying species, to suffer at the organism and ecosystem levels. In comparison, freshwater acidification has received less attention, rendering its consequences unclear. Here, juvenile Chinese mitten crabs, Eriocheir sinensis , were used as a crustacean model to investigate the impact of CO 2 -mediated freshwater acidification. Our integrative approach, investigating changes in the animal's acid–base homeostasis, metabolism, calcification, locomotory behaviour, and survival rate, indicates that this economically relevant crustacean will face energetic consequences from future freshwater acidification. These energetic trade-offs allow the animal to maintain its acid–base homeostasis at the cost of reduced metabolic activity, exoskeletal calcification, and locomotion, reducing the animal's overall fitness and increasing its mortality. Results indicate that present-day Chinese mitten crab could be heavily affected by freshwater acidification like their marine counterparts and emphasize the importance of understanding the long-term implications of freshwater acidification on species' fitness.