Ocean acidification impacts mussel control on biomineralisation

Ocean acidification is altering the oceanic carbonate saturation state and threatening the survival of marine calcifying organisms. Production of their calcium carbonate exoskeletons is dependent not only on the environmental seawater carbonate chemistry but also the ability to produce biominerals t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific Reports
Main Authors: Fitzer, Susan C., Phoenix, Vernon R., Cusack, Maggie, Kamenos, Nicholas A.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK 2014
Subjects:
Geochemistry
Geokemi
Ecology
Ekologi
Climate Research
Klimatforskning
Ocean acidification
Online Access:http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-195859
https://doi.org/10.1038/srep06218
Description
Summary:Ocean acidification is altering the oceanic carbonate saturation state and threatening the survival of marine calcifying organisms. Production of their calcium carbonate exoskeletons is dependent not only on the environmental seawater carbonate chemistry but also the ability to produce biominerals through proteins. We present shell growth and structural responses by the economically important marine calcifier Mytilus edulis to ocean acidification scenarios (380, 550, 750, 1000 mu atm pCO(2)). After six months of incubation at 750 matm pCO(2), reduced carbonic anhydrase protein activity and shell growth occurs in M. edulis. Beyond that, at 1000 matm pCO(2), biomineralisation continued but with compensated metabolism of proteins and increased calcite growth. Mussel growth occurs at a cost to the structural integrity of the shell due to structural disorientation of calcite crystals. This loss of structural integrity could impact mussel shell strength and reduce protection from predators and changing environments.

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