Seawater carbonate chemistry and biological processes during experiments with clownfish Amphiprion percula, 2009

• Main Authors: Munday, Philip L, Dixson, Danielle L, Donelson, Jennifer M, Jones, G P, Pratchett, M S, Devitsina, G V, Doving, K B
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 2009
• Subjects: Alkalinity; total; Amphiprion percula; Animalia; Aragonite saturation state; Behaviour; Bicarbonate ion; Calcite saturation state; Calculated by titration using APHA-AWWA-WEF method. Radiometer pH/Tritrator; Calculated using CO2SYS; Calculated using seacarb after Nisumaa et al. (2010); Carbon; inorganic; dissolved; Carbonate ion; Carbonate system computation flag; Carbon dioxide; Chordata; Containers and aquaria (20-1000 L or < 1 m**2); EPOCA; Estimated; EUR-OCEANS; European network of excellence for Ocean Ecosystems Analysis; European Project on Ocean Acidification; Experimental treatment; Fugacity of carbon dioxide (water) at sea surface temperature (wet air); Laboratory experiment; Laboratory strains; Nekton; Not applicable; OA-ICC; Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre; Oxygen; gas; Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (water) at sea surface temperature (wet air); Pelagos; pH; pH meter (TPS WP80); Salinity; see Munday et al. (2009); Single species; Temperature; water; Time; WTW Oxi 340i probe; Ocean acidification
• Online Access: https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.737412; https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.737412

The persistence of most coastal marine species depends on larvae finding suitable adult habitat at the end of an offshore dispersive stage that can last weeks or months. We tested the effects that ocean acidification from elevated levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) could have on the ability of larvae to detect olfactory cues from adult habitats. Larval clownfish reared in control seawater (pH 8.15) discriminated between a range of cues that could help them locate reef habitat and suitable settlement sites. This discriminatory ability was disrupted when larvae were reared in conditions simulating CO2-induced ocean acidification. Larvae became strongly attracted to olfactory stimuli they normally avoided when reared at levels of ocean pH that could occur ca. 2100 (pH 7.8) and they no longer responded to any olfactory cues when reared at pH levels (pH 7.6) that might be attained later next century on a business-as-usual carbon-dioxide emissions trajectory. If acidification continues unabated, the impairment of sensory ability will reduce population sustainability of many marine species, with potentially profound consequences for marine diversity.