Functional impacts of ocean acidification in an ecologically critical foundation species
Anthropogenic CO 2 is reducing the pH and altering the carbonate chemistry of seawater, with repercussions for marine organisms and ecosystems. Current research suggests that calcification will decrease in many species, but compelling evidence of impaired functional performance of calcium carbonate...
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fthighwire:oai:open-archive.highwire.org:jexbio:214/15/2586 2023-05-15T17:50:07+02:00 Functional impacts of ocean acidification in an ecologically critical foundation species Gaylord, Brian Hill, Tessa M. Sanford, Eric Lenz, Elizabeth A. Jacobs, Lisa A. Sato, Kirk N. Russell, Ann D. Hettinger, Annaliese 2011-08-01 00:00:00.0 text/html http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/short/214/15/2586 https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.055939 en eng Company of Biologists http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/short/214/15/2586 http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jeb.055939 Copyright (C) 2011, Company of Biologists Research Articles TEXT 2011 fthighwire https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.055939 2013-05-27T12:26:26Z Anthropogenic CO 2 is reducing the pH and altering the carbonate chemistry of seawater, with repercussions for marine organisms and ecosystems. Current research suggests that calcification will decrease in many species, but compelling evidence of impaired functional performance of calcium carbonate structures is sparse, particularly in key species. Here we demonstrate that ocean acidification markedly degrades the mechanical integrity of larval shells in the mussel Mytilus californianus , a critical community member on rocky shores throughout the northeastern Pacific. Larvae cultured in seawater containing CO 2 concentrations expected by the year 2100 (540 or 970 ppm) precipitated weaker, thinner and smaller shells than individuals raised under present-day seawater conditions (380 ppm), and also exhibited lower tissue mass. Under a scenario where mussel larvae exposed to different CO 2 levels develop at similar rates, these trends suggest a suite of potential consequences, including an exacerbated vulnerability of new settlers to crushing and drilling attacks by predators; poorer larval condition, causing increased energetic stress during metamorphosis; and greater risks from desiccation at low tide due to shifts in shell area to body mass ratios. Under an alternative scenario where responses derive exclusively from slowed development, with impacted individuals reaching identical milestones in shell strength and size by settlement, a lengthened larval phase could increase exposure to high planktonic mortality rates. In either case, because early life stages operate as population bottlenecks, driving general patterns of distribution and abundance, the ecological success of this vital species may be tied to how ocean acidification proceeds in coming decades. Text Ocean acidification HighWire Press (Stanford University) Pacific Journal of Experimental Biology 214 15 2586 2594 |
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Research Articles |
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Research Articles Gaylord, Brian Hill, Tessa M. Sanford, Eric Lenz, Elizabeth A. Jacobs, Lisa A. Sato, Kirk N. Russell, Ann D. Hettinger, Annaliese Functional impacts of ocean acidification in an ecologically critical foundation species |
topic_facet |
Research Articles |
description |
Anthropogenic CO 2 is reducing the pH and altering the carbonate chemistry of seawater, with repercussions for marine organisms and ecosystems. Current research suggests that calcification will decrease in many species, but compelling evidence of impaired functional performance of calcium carbonate structures is sparse, particularly in key species. Here we demonstrate that ocean acidification markedly degrades the mechanical integrity of larval shells in the mussel Mytilus californianus , a critical community member on rocky shores throughout the northeastern Pacific. Larvae cultured in seawater containing CO 2 concentrations expected by the year 2100 (540 or 970 ppm) precipitated weaker, thinner and smaller shells than individuals raised under present-day seawater conditions (380 ppm), and also exhibited lower tissue mass. Under a scenario where mussel larvae exposed to different CO 2 levels develop at similar rates, these trends suggest a suite of potential consequences, including an exacerbated vulnerability of new settlers to crushing and drilling attacks by predators; poorer larval condition, causing increased energetic stress during metamorphosis; and greater risks from desiccation at low tide due to shifts in shell area to body mass ratios. Under an alternative scenario where responses derive exclusively from slowed development, with impacted individuals reaching identical milestones in shell strength and size by settlement, a lengthened larval phase could increase exposure to high planktonic mortality rates. In either case, because early life stages operate as population bottlenecks, driving general patterns of distribution and abundance, the ecological success of this vital species may be tied to how ocean acidification proceeds in coming decades. |
format |
Text |
author |
Gaylord, Brian Hill, Tessa M. Sanford, Eric Lenz, Elizabeth A. Jacobs, Lisa A. Sato, Kirk N. Russell, Ann D. Hettinger, Annaliese |
author_facet |
Gaylord, Brian Hill, Tessa M. Sanford, Eric Lenz, Elizabeth A. Jacobs, Lisa A. Sato, Kirk N. Russell, Ann D. Hettinger, Annaliese |
author_sort |
Gaylord, Brian |
title |
Functional impacts of ocean acidification in an ecologically critical foundation species |
title_short |
Functional impacts of ocean acidification in an ecologically critical foundation species |
title_full |
Functional impacts of ocean acidification in an ecologically critical foundation species |
title_fullStr |
Functional impacts of ocean acidification in an ecologically critical foundation species |
title_full_unstemmed |
Functional impacts of ocean acidification in an ecologically critical foundation species |
title_sort |
functional impacts of ocean acidification in an ecologically critical foundation species |
publisher |
Company of Biologists |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/short/214/15/2586 https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.055939 |
geographic |
Pacific |
geographic_facet |
Pacific |
genre |
Ocean acidification |
genre_facet |
Ocean acidification |
op_relation |
http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/short/214/15/2586 http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jeb.055939 |
op_rights |
Copyright (C) 2011, Company of Biologists |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.055939 |
container_title |
Journal of Experimental Biology |
container_volume |
214 |
container_issue |
15 |
container_start_page |
2586 |
op_container_end_page |
2594 |
_version_ |
1766156709998362624 |