Ocean Acidification alters the composition of decapod crustacean communities associated to Posidonia oceanica beds

• Main Authors: Zupo, Valerio, Viel, Thomas
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Italian
• Published: Domenico Fulgione 2021
• Subjects: Ocean acidification
• Online Access: http://www.serena.unina.it/index.php/bornh/article/view/Ocean%20Acidification%20alters%20the%20composition%20of%20decapod%20crustacean%20communities%20associated%20to%20Posidonia%20oceanica%20beds; https://doi.org/10.6092/2724-4393/7585

Ocean Acidification (OA) produces manifest changes in thespecies assemblages of stable marine ecosystems, althoughthe general levels of biodiversity may be partially conserved. Inthe case of decapod crustaceans, that represent an interestingtaxon because it reacts both to direct and indirect effects of OA,a lowering of pH induces clear changes in the structure ofspecies assemblages. In this study we collected decapodcrustaceans at two sites at low pH located at Castello d’Ischia,two control sites at normal pH located at Castello d’Ischia andone external control site. The results confirm that a lowerbiodiversity characterizes the acidified zones over the year andindicate that key species, normally very abundant in normalconditions all over the year, exhibit impoverished populationsassociated to the Posidonia oceanica beds off the island ofIschia.