Investigating the Effects of Decreased pH on an Intertidal Shore Crab, Hemigrapsus nudus

• Main Author: Gandhi, Avni
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Dominican Scholar 2017
• Subjects: Animal Experimentation and Research; Marine Biology; Other Environmental Sciences; Ocean acidification
• Online Access: https://scholar.dominican.edu/scw/scw2017/all-conference/128

Ocean acidification has emerged as an issue for marine organisms due to increased levels of CO2 in the atmosphere. In particular, invertebrates with calcium carbonate exoskeletons seem to be at risk. Our research investigates the potential effect of decreased pH on the weight of Hemigrapsus nudus, a species of intertidal crab found in Northern California. Over a 6 week period, the crabs were maintained in individual containers with recirculating chilled seawater at 12.7°C. The control aquarium was maintained at 8.1 pH, while the experimental aquarium averaged a pH of 7.5. Crabs were weighed at 2 week intervals, preliminary information shows the control crabs increased in weight while the experimental crabs lost weight. Our results suggest that the decreased pH is possibly affecting a component of calcification needed for strong exoskeleton.