Evidences on alterations in skeleton composition and mineralization in a site-attached fish under naturally acidified conditions in a shallow CO2 vent

• Published in: Science of The Total Environment
• Main Authors: Mirasole, Alice, Scopelliti, Giovanna, Tramati, Cecilia, Signa, Geraldina, Mazzola, Antonio, Vizzini, Salvatrice
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: Skeletal structure; Skeletal composition; Gobius bucchichi; Metals bioaccumulation; Infrared spectroscopy; Ocean acidification; Settore BIO/07 - Ecologia; Settore GEO/06 - Mineralogia
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10447/472788; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143309

Background: Ocean acidification may affect fish mineralized structures (i.e. otoliths and skeleton). Methods: Here,we compared the elemental composition of muscle and skeleton and themineral features of skeleton in the site-attached fish Gobius bucchichi naturally exposed to high pCO2/lowpH conditions in a shallow CO2 vent with fish of the same species exposed to normal pH. Results: Overall, no skeleton malformations were found in both pH conditions, but among-site differences were found in the elemental composition. Interestingly, higher Ca/P values, inducing a moderate skeleton maturation, were found in fish exposed to acidified conditions than in controls. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that ocean acidification may play a significant role in physiological processes related to mineralization, fostering skeleton pre-aging.