Highlights
- Cymodocea nodosa performance under in-situ ocean acidification has been evaluated.
- Morphology of long-term acidified plants does not differ from that of control plants.
- Higher performance was found in short-term acidified plants.
- The response of apical shoots was particularly enhanced.
Abstract
Future ocean acidification conditions have the potential to affect seagrasses, although predicting the outcomes remains challenging due to the complexity of ecological interactions. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of ocean acidification on the morphology and physiology of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa. A field manipulative experiment was conducted (Aeolian Islands, Italy) at a natural low pH site, where shallow submarine CO2 seeps occur, and other control pH sites. The effects of long-term acidification (by comparing untouched plants from control pH to the low pH sites) and a short-term acidification (by comparing transplanted plants from control pH sites to low pH site with translocated control pH plants) were evaluated. The evidence provided suggest that the seagrass may be considered a low pH tolerant seagrass, as the long-term acidification only determined an increase in photopigment concentrations, while the short-term acidification led to the increase in morphology, biomass and pigments, counteracting the negative effects due to cutting manipulation. These enhancements were more pronounced in apical shoots, suggesting a high clonal specialization. Our study provides evidence of morphological and physiological acclimation of C. nodosa in response to acidified conditions, suggesting that future ocean acidification scenarios could also favour this autochthonous seagrass species.
Pansini A., Arena C., Crobu A., Vitale E. & Ceccherelli G., 2025. Short-term and long-term ocean acidification effects on seagrass performance: evidence from shallow CO2 vents. Environmental Research: 122485. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.122485. Article.
