Effect of CO2 driven ocean acidification on calcification, physiology and ovarian cells of tropical sea urchin Salmacis virgulata – A microcosm approach

• Published in: Heliyon
• Main Authors: Muthusamy Anand, Kannan Rangesh, Muthuchamy Maruthupandy, Govindarajulu Jayanthi, Balakrishnan Rajeswari, Radhakrishnan Jeeva Priya
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2021
• Subjects: Ocean acidification; Microcosm; Calcification; Biomarkers and ovarian damage; Science (General); Q1-390; Social sciences (General); H1-99
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e05970; https://doaj.org/article/b4d2947fae0f40f9a1e7ef53dadc2d53

In the present study, we depict the structural modification of test minerals, physiological response and ovarian damage in the tropical sea urchin Salmacis virgulata using microcosm CO2 (Carbon dioxide) perturbation experiment. S. virgulata were exposed to hypercapnic conditions with four different pH levels using CO2 gas bubbling method that reflects ambient level (pH 8.2) and elevated pCO2 scenarios (pH 8.0, 7.8 and 7.6). The variations in physical strength and mechanical properties of S. virgulata test were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis and scanned electron microscopy analysis. Biomarker enzymes such as glutathione-S-transferase, catalase, acetylcholine esterase, lipid peroxidase and reduced glutathione showed physiological stress and highly significant (p < 0.01) towards pH 7.6 and 7.8 treatments. Ovarian cells were highly damaged at pH 7.6 and 7.8 treatments. This study proved that the pH level 7.6 and 7.8 drastically affect calcification, physiological response and ovarian cells in S. virgulata.