Seawater carbonate chemistry and physiological and mechanical properties of the starfish Asterias rubens in a laboratory experiment

• Main Authors: Collard, Marie, Catarino, Ana Isabel, Bonnet, Stéphanie, Flammang, Patrick, Dubois, Philippe
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 2013
• Subjects: Acid-base regulation; Alkalinity; total; Animalia; Aragonite saturation state; Asterias rubens; Benthic animals; Benthos; Bicarbonate ion; Calcite saturation state; Calcium; standard deviation; Calcium ion; Calculated using CO2SYS; Calculated using seacarb after Nisumaa et al. (2010); Carbon; inorganic; dissolved; Carbonate ion; Carbonate system computation flag; Carbon dioxide; Coast and continental shelf; Coelomic fluid; magnesium ion; pH; Comment; Containers and aquaria (20-1000 L or < 1 m**2); Dry mass; Echinodermata; Extensibility; Force; Fugacity of carbon dioxide (water) at sea surface temperature (wet air); Gene expression (incl. proteomics); Growth/Morphology; Identification; Incubation duration; Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscope (ICP-AES); Laboratory experiment; Magnesium; Ocean acidification
• Online Access: https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.823583; https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.823583

The increase in atmospheric CO2 due to anthropogenic activity results in an acidification of the surface waters of the oceans. Its impact will depend on the considered organisms and ecosystems. The intertidal may harbor organisms pre-adapted to the upcoming changes as they face tidal pH and temperature fluctuations. However, these environments will be more affected as shallow waters will face the highest decrease in seawater pH. In this context, the effects of reduced environmental pH on the physiology and tube feet mechanical properties of the intertidal starfish Asterias rubens, a top predator, were investigated during 15 and 27 days. A. rubens showed a respiratory acidosis with its coelomic fluid pH always lower than that of seawater. This acidosis was most pronounced at pH 7.4. Notwithstanding, the starfish showed no significant variations in RNA/DNA ratio of different tissues and in tube feet strength. However, respiration rates were significantly lower for individuals maintained at reduced seawater pH. Within the ocean acidification context, the present results suggest that A. rubens withstands the effects of reduced seawater pH, at least for medium term exposures.