Does eelgrass act as an ocean acidification refuge for shellfish in the Salish Sea?

• Main Authors: Becker, Bonnie, McCartha, Michelle, Horwith, Micah
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Western CEDAR 2018
• Subjects: Ocean acidification; Bivalve larvae; Behavior; Seagrass; Fresh Water Studies; Life Sciences; Marine Biology; Natural Resources and Conservation; Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology
• Online Access: https://cedar.wwu.edu/ssec/2018ssec/allsessions/129; https://cedar.wwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2564&context=ssec

Marine waters worldwide are becoming more acidic due to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Changes in pH are heterogeneous in space and time and can be affected by physical and biological processes, including photosynthesis and respiration of plants and animals. Previous studies have shown that seagrass beds, which contain a large amount of plant biomass, can alter the carbonate chemistry in the immediate area, with higher pH during the day and lower pH at night. We explored the effects of this pattern on bivalve shellfish at four sites in Puget Sound and Willapa Bay. Pumped water samples were taken at replicate stations representing seagrass beds and bare substrate, at the surface and bottom of the water column, during the day and at night. Samples were analyzed by microscopy to quantify larvae of various bivalves and with quantitative PCR to record the presence of three bivalve species. We predict that larvae will move into seagrass beds during the day and move out at night, relative to bare stations. Results are pending. Understanding the role of seagrass as an acidification refuge will help guide restoration and management actions in a changing climate. I PREFER A SNAPSHOT STYLE TALK, BUT CAN BE FLEXIBLE DEPENDING ON SCHEDULING.