Climate change leads to multiple effects caused by simultaneous shifts in several physical factors which will interact with species and ecosystems in complex ways. In marine systems the effects of climate change include altered salinity, increased temperature, and elevated pCO2 which are currently affecting and will continue to affect marine species and ecosystems. Seaweeds are primary producers and foundation species in coastal ecosystems, which are particularly vulnerable to climate change. The brown seaweed Fucus vesiculosus (bladderwrack) is an important foundation species in nearshore ecosystems throughout its natural range in the North Atlantic Ocean and the Baltic Sea. This study investigates how individual and interactive effects of temperature, salinity, and pCO2 affect F. vesiculosus, using a fully crossed experimental design. We assessed the effects on F. vesiculosus in terms of growth, biochemical composition (phlorotannin content, C:N ratio, and ∂13C), and susceptibility to the specialized grazer Littorina obtusata. We observed that elevated pCO2 had a positive effect on seaweed growth in ambient temperature, but not in elevated temperature, while growth increased in low salinity at ambient but not high temperature, regardless of pCO2-level. In parallel to the statistically significant, but relatively small, positive effects on F. vesiculosus growth, we found that the seaweeds became much more susceptible to grazing in elevated pCO2 and reduced salinity, regardless of temperature. Furthermore, the ability of the seaweeds to induce chemical defenses (phlorotannins) was strongly reduced by all the climate stressors. Seaweeds exposed to ambient conditions more than doubled their phlorotannin content in the presence of grazers, while seaweeds exposed to any single or combined stress conditions showed only minor increases in phlorotannin content, or none at all. Despite the minor positive effects on seaweed growth, the results of this study imply that climate change can strongly affect the ability of fucoid seaweeds to induce chemical defenses and increase their susceptibility to grazers. This will likely lead to widespread consequences under future climate conditions, considering the important role of F. vesiculosus and other fucoids in many coastal ecosystems.
Continue reading ‘Climate change increases susceptibility to grazers in a foundation seaweed’Posts Tagged 'salinity'
Climate change increases susceptibility to grazers in a foundation seaweed
Published 5 July 2021 Science ClosedTags: algae, biological response, laboratory, mollusks, morphology, multiple factors, North Atlantic, performance, physiology, salinity, temperature
Primary, secondary, and tertiary stress responses of juvenile seahorse Hippocampus reidi exposed to acute acid stress in brackish and seawater
Published 18 March 2021 Science ClosedTags: biological response, fish, laboratory, mortality, multiple factors, physiology, salinity, South Atlantic
Highlights
• Activity of antioxidant enzymes was harmed in seahorse juveniles exposed to acidic environment in brackish water.
• Lower tolerance for acidification in brackish water triggered lipid peroxidation in seahorse juveniles.
• Seahorse juvenile survival was not influenced by pH neither in brackish nor in sea water.
Abstract
Seahorse Hippocampus reidi is a vulnerable species, inhabiting estuarine and coastal waters. The safety of acidic environments for fish has been considered in terms of ocean acidification in nature and decreasing pH in intensive aquaculture systems. This study aimed to investigate the effects of acute exposition (96 h) of juvenile seahorses to different pH (5, 6, 7, and 8) in brackish (BW – salinity 11) or seawater (SW – salinity 33). For that, we studied the responses of cortisol, oxidative stress, and survival, thus covering primary, secondary, and tertiary stress responses. In SW, cortisol levels were not altered for fish maintained at pH 5 and 8. However, in BW, cortisol was higher for fish kept at pH 5. Regarding secondary stress responses, only GST activity increased with acidification in SW. However, acidification in BW caused biochemical alterations at enzymatic level (SOD, GST, GPx) and glutathione metabolism, accompanied by reduction of antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and increased lipid peroxidation (TBARS). Survival was always above 90% and it did not differ significantly among pH levels. Our results suggest that H. reidi juveniles are more vulnerable to acidic exposure in BW than in SW.
Continue reading ‘Primary, secondary, and tertiary stress responses of juvenile seahorse Hippocampus reidi exposed to acute acid stress in brackish and seawater’Effects of salinity, pH and alkalinity on hatching rate of fertilized eggs of Penaeus monodon
Published 1 March 2021 Science ClosedTags: biological response, crustaceans, laboratory, multiple factors, reproduction, salinity
The fertilized eggs of “Nanhai 2” Penaeus monodon bred by our research group were incubated at the same temperature (30°C), different salinity (20, 25, 30, 35, 40), different pH (7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, 9.0) and different alkalinity (2.0 mmol/L, 2.5 mmol/L, 3.0 mmol/L, 3.5 mmol/L, 4.0 mmol/L) to explore the effects of salinity, pH and alkalinity on hatching rate of fertilized eggs of P. monodon. The results showed that the hatching rate of fertilization rate of P. monodon was closely related to salinity, and the best hatching rate was obtained when the seawater salinity was 30 with the average hatching rate was 82.60%. The hatching rate was very low when the salinity was as low as 20 or as high as 40, which was significantly lower than that of other treatments (P<0.05). The hatching effect of the fertilized eggs of P. monodon was closely related to the pH value of seawater, and the slightly alkaline seawater was conducive to the normal development of the fertilized eggs. Among them, the hatching effect of the seawater pH value of 8.0 was the best, and the average hatching rate of the fertilized eggs was 80.62%. Too low or too high pH value of the seawater was not conducive to the development of the embryo, and the hatching rate of the fertilized eggs decreased in varying degrees. There was no significant correlation between the hatching effect of fertilized eggs and the change of seawater alkalinity. The average hatching rate of fertilized eggs ranged from 78.65% to 83.12% in the alkalinity range of 2.0-4.0 mmol/L
Continue reading ‘Effects of salinity, pH and alkalinity on hatching rate of fertilized eggs of Penaeus monodon’Long-term environmental tolerance of the non-indigenous Pacific oyster to expected contemporary climate change conditions
Published 7 December 2020 Science ClosedTags: biological response, laboratory, mollusks, morphology, multiple factors, North Atlantic, physiology, respiration, salinity, temperature
Highlights
- Long-term effects of climate change on non-indigenous species are rarely studied
- Pacific oysters were exposed to warming, ocean acidification and reduced salinity
- Warming and ocean acidification predicted for the year 2100 did not affect fitness
- Low salinity reduced clearance rates and increased oxygen consumption rates
- Long-term observations highlighted potential seasonal trends in physiological rates
Abstract
The current global redistribution of biota is often attributed to two main drivers: contemporary climate change (CCC) and non-indigenous species (NIS). Despite evidence of synergetic effects, however, studies assessing long-term effects of CCC conditions on NIS fitness remain rare. We examined the interactive effects of warming, ocean acidification and reduced salinity on the globally distributed marine NIS Magallana gigas(Pacific oyster) over a ten-month period. Growth, clearance and oxygen consumption rates were measured monthly to assess individual fitness. Lower salinity had a significant, permanent effect on M. gigas, reducing and increasing clearance and oxygen consumption rates, respectively. Neither predicted increases in seawater temperature nor reduced pH had a long-term physiological effect, indicating conditions predicted for 2100 will not affect adult physiology and survival. These results suggest that M. gigas will remain a globally successful NIS and predicted CCC will continue to facilitate their competitive dominance in the near future.
Continue reading ‘Long-term environmental tolerance of the non-indigenous Pacific oyster to expected contemporary climate change conditions’Decoupling salinity and carbonate chemistry: low calcium ion concentration rather than salinity limits calcification in Baltic Sea mussels
Published 17 November 2020 Science ClosedTags: Baltic, calcification, chemistry, field, laboratory, mollusks, morphology, multiple factors, salinity
The Baltic Sea has a salinity gradient decreasing from fully marine (> 25) in the West to below 7 in the Central Baltic Proper. Reef forming mytilid mussels exhibit decreasing growth when salinity < 11, however the mechanisms underlying reduced calcification rates in dilute seawater are not fully understood. In fact, both [HCO3−] and [Ca2+] also decrease with salinity, challenging calcifying organisms through CaCO3 undersaturation (Ω ≤ 1) and unfavourable ratios of calcification substrate (Ca2+ and HCO3−) to inhibitor (H+). In this study we assessed the impact of isolated individual factors (salinity, [Ca2+], [HCO3−] and pH) on calcification and growth of mytilid mussel populations along the Baltic salinity gradient. Laboratory experiments rearing juvenile Baltic Mytilus at a range of salinities (6, 11 and 16), HCO3− concentrations (300–2100 µmol kg−1) and Ca2+ concentrations (0.5–4 mmol kg−1) were coupled with field monitoring in three Baltic mussel reefs. Results reveal that as individual factors, low [HCO3−], pH and salinity cannot explain low calcification rates in the Baltic Sea. Calcification rates are impeded when Ωaragonite ≤ 1 or the substrate inhibitor ratio ≤ 0.7, primarily due to [Ca2+] limitation which corresponds to a salinity of ca. 11. Increased food availability may be able to mask these negative impacts, but not when seawater conditions are permanently adverse, as observed in two Baltic reefs at salinities < 11. Future climatic models predict rapid desalination of the southwest and Central Baltic and potentially a reduction in [Ca2+] which may lead to a westward distribution shift of marine calcifiers. It is therefore vital to understand the mechanisms by which the ionic composition of seawater impacts bivalve calcification for better predicting the future of benthic Baltic ecosystems.
Continue reading ‘Decoupling salinity and carbonate chemistry: low calcium ion concentration rather than salinity limits calcification in Baltic Sea mussels’Ocean freshening and acidification differentially influence mortality and behavior of the Antarctic amphipod Gondogeneia antarctica
Published 27 October 2020 Science ClosedTags: Antarctic, biological response, crustaceans, laboratory, mortality, multiple factors, performance, salinity
Highlights
- Glacial retreat induced by global warming can decrease salinity and pH of the Antarctic ocean.
- The Antarctic amphipod Gondogeneia antarctica was exposed to low salinity (27 psu) and low pH (7.6) conditions.
- Low salinity increased cannibalism and induced adjusted swimming.
- Low pH increased mortality, impaired food detection and reduced daytime shelter use.
- Ocean freshening and acidification act as independent stressors influencing behavior and physiology of Antarctic amphipods.
Abstract
The Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) has experienced rapid atmospheric and ocean warming over the past few decades and many marine-terminating glaciers have considerably retreated. Glacial retreat is accompanied by fresh meltwater intrusion, which may result in the freshening and acidification of coastal waters. Marian Cove (MC), on King George Island in the WAP, undergoes one of the highest rates of glacial retreat. Intertidal and shallow subtidal waters are likely more susceptible to these processes, and sensitive biological responses are expected from the organisms inhabiting this area. The gammarid amphipod Gondogeneia antarctica is one of the most abundant species in the shallow, nearshore Antarctic waters, and it occupies an essential ecological niche in the coastal marine WAP ecosystem. In this study, we tested the sensitivity of G. antarctica to lowered salinity and pH by meltwater intrusion following glacial retreat. We exposed G. antarctica to four different treatments combining two salinities (34 and 27 psu) and pH (8.0 and 7.6) levels for 26 days. Mortality, excluding cannibalized individuals, increased under low pH but decreased under low salinity conditions. Meanwhile, low salinity increased cannibalism, whereas low pH reduced food detection. Shelter use during the daytime decreased under each low salinity and pH condition, indicating that the two stressors act as disruptors of amphipod behavior. Under low salinity conditions, swimming increased during the daytime but decreased at night. Although interactions between low salinity and low pH were not observed during the experiment, the results suggest that each stressor, likely induced by glacial melting, causes altered behaviors in amphipods. These environmental factors may threaten population persistence in Marian Cove and possibly other similar glacial embayments.
Continue reading ‘Ocean freshening and acidification differentially influence mortality and behavior of the Antarctic amphipod Gondogeneia antarctica’Effects of low pH and low salinity induced by meltwater inflow on the behavior and physical condition of the Antarctic limpet, Nacella concinna
Published 27 October 2020 Science ClosedTags: Antarctic, biological response, dissolution, laboratory, mollusks, mortality, multiple factors, performance, physiology, salinity
Seawater acidification and freshening in the intertidal zone of Marian Cove, Antarctica, which occurs by the freshwater inflow from snow fields and glaciers, could affect the physiology and behavior of intertidal marine organisms. In this study, we exposed Antarctic limpets, Nacella concinna, to two different pH (8.00 and 7.55) and salinity (34.0 and 27.0 psu) levels and measured their righting ability after being flipped over, mortality, condition factor, and shell dissolution. During the 35-day exposure, there was no significant difference in behavior and mortality between different treatments. However, the condition factor was negatively affected by low salinity. Both low pH and low salinity negatively influenced shell formation by decreasing the aragonite saturation state (Ωarg) and enhancing shell dissolution. Our results suggest that, though limpets can tolerate short-term low pH and salinity conditions, intrusions of meltwater accompanied by the glacial retreat may act as a serious threat to the population of N. concinna.
Continue reading ‘Effects of low pH and low salinity induced by meltwater inflow on the behavior and physical condition of the Antarctic limpet, Nacella concinna’Contrasting responses to salinity and future ocean acidification in arctic populations of the amphipod Gammarus setosus
Published 14 October 2020 Science ClosedTags: Arctic, biological response, crustaceans, field, laboratory, multiple factors, physiology, salinity
Highlights
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Climate change is leading to changes in salinity and pCO2 in arctic/sub-arctic coastal ecosystems.
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We examined Gammarus setosus at 3 sites along a salinity gradient in the field and laboratory.
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Reduced salinity had more of an effect than elevated pCO2 by reducing energy budgets.
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Lower salinities increased ion transporting capacities in the laboratory but not in the field.
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G. setosus at lower salinity sites have lower energy budgets suggesting impacts on performance.
Abstract
Climate change is leading to alterations in salinity and carbonate chemistry in arctic/sub-arctic marine ecosystems. We examined three nominal populations of the circumpolar arctic/subarctic amphipod, Gammarus setosus, along a salinity gradient in the Kongsfjorden-/Krossfjorden area of Svalbard. Field and laboratory experiments assessed physiological (haemolymph osmolality and gill Na+/K+-ATPase activity, NKA) and energetic responses (metabolic rates, MO2, and Cellular Energy Allocation, CEA). In the field, all populations had similar osmregulatory capacities and MO2, but lower-salinity populations had lower CEA. Reduced salinity (S = 23) and elevated pCO2 (∼1000 μatm) in the laboratory for one month increased gill NKA activities and reduced CEA in all populations, but increased MO2 in the higher-salinity population. Elevated pCO2 did not interact with salinity and had no effect on NKA activities or CEA, but reduced MO2 in all populations. Reduced CEA in lower-rather than higher-salinity populations may have longer term effects on other energy demanding processes (growth and reproduction).
Lower salinity leads to improved physiological performance in the coccolithophorid Emiliania huxleyi, which partly ameliorates the effects of ocean acidification
Published 9 October 2020 Science ClosedTags: biological response, calcification, growth, laboratory, morphology, multiple factors, photosynthesis, phytoplankton, primary production, salinity
While seawater acidification induced by elevated CO2 is known to impact coccolithophores, the effects in combination with decreased salinity caused by sea ice melting and/or hydrological events have not been documented. Here we show the combined effects of seawater acidification and reduced salinity on growth, photosynthesis and calcification of Emiliania huxleyi grown at 2 CO2 concentrations (low CO2 LC:400 μatm; high CO2 HC:1000 μatm) and 3 levels of salinity (25, 30, and 35‰). A decrease of salinity from 35 to 25‰ increased growth rate, cell size and photosynthetic performance under both LC and HC. Calcification rates were relatively insensitive to salinity though they were higher in the LC-grown compared to the HC-grown cells at 25‰ salinity, with insignificant differences under 30 and 35‰. Since salinity and OA treatments did not show interactive effects on calcification, changes in calcification: photosynthesis ratios are attributed to the elevated photosynthetic rates at lower salinities, with higher ratios of calcification to photosynthesis in the cells grown under 35‰ compared with those grown at 25‰. In contrast, photosynthetic carbon fixation increased almost linearly with decreasing salinity, regardless of the pCO2 treatments. When subjected to short-term exposure to high light, the low-salinity-grown cells showed the highest photochemical effective quantum yield with the highest repair rate, though the HC treatment enhanced the PSII damage rate. Our results suggest that, irrespective of pCO2, at low salinity Emiliania huxleyi up-regulates its photosynthetic performance which, despite a relatively insensitive calcification response, may help it better adapt to future ocean global environmental changes, including ocean acidification, especially in the coastal areas of high latitudes.
Temperature and salinity, not acidification, predict near-future larval growth and larval habitat suitability of Olympia oysters in the Salish Sea
Published 19 August 2020 Science ClosedTags: biological response, growth, laboratory, modeling, mollusks, morphology, mortality, multiple factors, North Pacific, regionalmodeling, reproduction, salinity, temperature
Most invertebrates in the ocean begin their lives with planktonic larval phases that are critical for dispersal and distribution of these species. Larvae are particularly vulnerable to environmental change, so understanding interactive effects of environmental stressors on larval life is essential in predicting population persistence and vulnerability of species. Here, we use a novel experimental approach to rear larvae under interacting gradients of temperature, salinity, and ocean acidification, then model growth rate and duration of Olympia oyster larvae and predict the suitability of habitats for larval survival. We find that temperature and salinity are closely linked to larval growth and larval habitat suitability, but larvae are tolerant to acidification at this scale. We discover that present conditions in the Salish Sea are actually suboptimal for Olympia oyster larvae from populations in the region, and that larvae from these populations might actually benefit from some degree of global ocean change. Our models predict a vast decrease in mean pelagic larval duration by the year 2095, which has the potential to alter population dynamics for this species in future oceans. Additionally, we find that larval tolerance can explain large-scale biogeographic patterns for this species across its range.
Effects of salinity and pH of seawater on the reproduction of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus
Published 12 August 2020 Science ClosedTags: biological response, echinoderms, laboratory, Mediterranean, morphology, multiple factors, physiology, reproduction, salinity
Fertilization and early development are usually the most vulnerable stages in the life of marine animals, and the biological processes during this period are highly sensitive to the environment. In nature, sea urchin gametes are shed in seawater, where they undergo external fertilization and embryonic development. In a laboratory, it is possible to follow the exact morphological and biochemical changes taking place in the fertilized eggs and the developing embryos. Thus, observation of successful fertilization and the subsequent embryonic development of sea urchin eggs can be used as a convenient biosensor to assess the quality of the marine environment. In this paper, we have examined how salinity and pH changes affect the normal fertilization process and the following development of Paracentrotus lividus. The results of our studies using confocal microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and time-lapse Ca2+ image recording indicated that both dilution and acidification of seawater have subtle but detrimental effects on many aspects of the fertilization process. They include Ca2+ signaling and coordinated actin cytoskeletal changes, leading to a significantly reduced rate of successful fertilization and, eventually, to abnormal or delayed embryonic development.
Effects of seawater salinity and pH on cellular metabolism and enzyme activities in biomineralizing tissues of marine bivalves
Published 29 June 2020 Science ClosedTags: biological response, laboratory, mollusks, multiple factors, physiology, salinity
Highlights
•Effects of salinity and pH on cellular metabolism were studied in bivalves.
•Biomineralizing cells had robust metabolism in the studied salinity and pH range.
•Oxygen consumption and protein synthesis rates declined at low pH.
•Na+/K+ ATPase activity increased at low salinity.
•H+ and Ca2+ transport activities were little affected by salinity and pH variation.
Abstract
Molluscan shell formation is a complex energy demanding process sensitive to the shifts in seawater CaCO3 saturation due to changes in salinity and pH. We studied the effects of salinity and pH on energy demand and enzyme activities of biomineralizing cells of the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) and the hard-shell clam (Mercenaria mercenaria). Adult animals were exposed for 14 days to high (30), intermediate (18), or low (10) salinity at either high (8.0-8.2) or low (7.8) pH. Basal metabolic cost as well as the energy cost of the biomineralization-related cellular processes were determined in isolated mantle edge cells and hemocytes. The total metabolic rates were similar in the hemocytes of the two studied species, but considerably higher in the mantle cells of C. gigas compared with those of M. mercenaria. Cellular respiration was unaffected by salinity in the clams’ cells, while in oysters’ cells the highest respiration rate was observed at intermediate salinity (18). In both studied species, low pH suppressed cellular respiration. Low pH led to an upregulation of Na+/K+ ATPase activity in biomineralizing cells of oysters and clams. Activities of Ca2+ ATPase and H+ ATPase, as well as the cellular energy costs of Ca2+ and H+ transport in the biomineralizing cells were insensitive to the variation in salinity and pH in the clams and oysters. Species-specific variability in cellular response to low salinity and pH indicates that the disturbance of shell formation under these conditions has different underlying mechanisms in the two studied species.
Continue reading ‘Effects of seawater salinity and pH on cellular metabolism and enzyme activities in biomineralizing tissues of marine bivalves’The combined effects of salinity and pH on shell biomineralization of the edible mussel Mytilus chilensis
Published 16 April 2020 Science ClosedTags: biological response, laboratory, mollusks, morphology, multiple factors, physiology, salinity, South Pacific
Highlights
• Coastal habitats such as estuaries show high environmental variability.
• pH and salinity impact on the periostracum organic composition.
• pH and salinity impact on the shell mineral organization.
• Salinity modulates the impact of pH on shell weight.
• The level of plasticity in shell properties differs with time exposure.
Abstract
Coastal ecosystems influenced by river discharges are subjected to important environmental changes. Understanding how marine biota cope with its environment is relevant in predicting the responses to future conditions imposed by climate change. To date, a large number of studies have addressed the role of pH on shell and biomineralization properties on multiple calcifying species; however the role of salinity in combination with other stressors has been poorly studied. In particular, the edible mussel Mytilus chilensis, an important marine resource of the Chilean coasts, inhabits estuarine areas which show high natural variability in terms of pH and salinity. Here, we studied how M. chilensis shell periostracum, shell organic matrix and crystal orientation are affected by different pH (8.1 and 7.7) and salinity conditions (30, 25 and 20 psu), isolated and in combination, at different time intervals. Our results show differences in the plasticity of the different biomineralogical properties studied during the experiment under the different pH and salinity treatments. While the periostracum thickness and the total shell organic matter were not affected by pH and salinity, the periostracum organic composition did. Higher amounts of polysaccharides were observed under low pH conditions after 20 days of experiment, while after 60 days, low salinity was responsible for the decrease of the polysaccharides and proteins in the periostracum. Low salinity also produced a major disorder in crystal organization at the outer shell surface. Finally, total shell weight was only affected by low pH conditions under lower salinity conditions (20 psu). From the results, in the majority of the shell properties observed we did not observe any combined effect of pH and salinity. Also, we detected that the magnitude of the impacts of salinity and pH are variable and time-dependent. This would be suggesting some level of acclimatization of M. chilensis to lower pH and salinity conditions.
Effects of multiple stressors on the development and performance of decapod crustaceans
Published 14 April 2020 Science ClosedTags: biological response, crustaceans, laboratory, mortality, multiple factors, nutrients, performance, reproduction, salinity, temperature
Many marine crustacean larvae develop in a relatively stable pelagic environment; therefore, they are likely to be sensitive to perturbations in their surrounding environmental conditions. Ocean Acidification (OA) is occurring on a globalised scale and may cause disruptions to crustacean larval survival. However, species and/or life history stages are not expected to respond uniformly to these near-future predicted changes. The performance of species that lack a compensatory capacity to cope with the changing conditions may potentially be detrimentally affected, which in turn may impact recruitment. In addition to this, little information exists surrounding the impacts of ocean acidification in conjunction with additional environmental stressors, such as salinity, temperature and food availability, which are predicted to covary with OA, upon brachyuran crustacean larvae. This research focused on the effects of elevated CO2, in combination with other environmental stressors, upon rates of larval development, performance and survival of a brachyuran crustacean species common to Europe (Carcinus maenas) and two species of shrimp (Palaemon serratus and Palaemon varians). These species have varying physiological abilities to cope with salinity change and such attributes may influence their capacities to survive elevated CO2 in combination with other environmental changes. Exposure of early larval stages to combinations of salinity, temperature and food limitation in C. maenas revealed that high temperature ameliorated the effect of low salinity on survival and developmental duration. Limited access to food also affected developmental duration, but exposure to elevated CO2 alone in a second experiment only affected survival, and low salinity alone had no effect. Exposure of early juvenile stages of C. maenas to CO2 and salinity, revealed that developmental duration was significantly affected by elevated CO2 and/or salinity at varying levels, whereas, for survival, such influences were only observed in later juvenile stages. These results suggest the possibility of a physiologically sensitive bottleneck within the life cycle of C. maenas. Exposure of early larval stages of the estuarine species, P. varians, to CO2 and salinity had no effect on either survival or developmental duration. For the predominantly coastal species, P. serratus, developmental duration was negatively influenced by the interaction of elevated CO2 and low salinity, but there was limited observed effect on overall survival at the early stages studied. Overall, evaluations of the effects of climate driven variables on physiological performance demonstrated that differences can occur among broods. In future, further studies are required to incorporate seasonal (and possibly spatial) variability in responses, due to maternal effects or phenotypic variation, as conclusions based on individuals collected over a short time frame are unlikely to fully represent population level responses.
pH and other upwelling hydrographic drivers in regulating copepod reproduction during the 2015 El Niño event: a follow-up study
Published 26 February 2020 Science ClosedTags: biological response, chemistry, field, laboratory, morphology, multiple factors, phytoplankton, reproduction, salinity, South Pacific
Highlights
• High salinity El Niño 2015 overlaid continuous low pH values observed in the upwelling site.
• Environmental pH-salinity and phenological regulation were detected in copepod reproduction.
• Upwelling pH-variations and high salinity El Niño events can underpin plankton responses to climate change.
Abstract
The combined upwelling-El Niño (EN) event regulation of the numerically dominant Acartia tonsa (Crustacea, Copepoda) reproduction was examined in a year-round upwelling system (23°S) of the Humboldt Eastern Boundary Upwelling System (EBUS) during the EN 2015. A previous analysis of the environmental regulation of this system is extended here by considering complementary oceanographic information (sea level, stratification indexes) and additional reproductive traits, such as maximum (MaxEPR), median (MedianEPR) and prevalence of egg producing females over a period of six months. Furthermore, field minimum-maximum pH levels were reproduced in three 96-h incubation experiments conducted under variable salinity conditions to evaluate copepod mean EPR, egg size and hatching success. Supporting previous assertions, the warm-high salinity EN 2015 was observed in the study site separately from hydrographic conditions associated with upwelling to non-upwelling regimes. Analysis of similarity-distance (Distance based Linear Model (DistLM)) and normalized data (separate-slope comparison under a General Linear Model (GLM)) showed that reproductive traits were regulated by specific combinations of ambient conditions, and that this regulation was also sensitive to the prevailing hydrographic regime. Thus, upwelling to non-upwelling transitions changing the pH, and EN-associated salinity and stratification shifts, were significantly and strongly linked to almost all reproductive traits (DistLM). Slope comparison (GLM) indicated MaxEPR and MedianEPR variations also underlie the phenology, highlighting the relationship between pH and salinity with biological variations. In conjunction with experimental observations, the current study consistently suggests that pH-variations in the upwelling realm, and EN hydrographic perturbations might underpin responses of plankton populations to climate change in productive EBUS.
Impacts of temperature, CO2, and salinity on phytoplankton community composition in the western Arctic Ocean
Published 31 January 2020 Science ClosedTags: abundance, Arctic, biological response, community composition, field, growth, laboratory, morphology, multiple factors, otherprocess, phytoplankton, salinity, temperature
The Arctic Ocean has been experiencing rapid warming, which accelerates sea ice melt. Further, the increasing area and duration of sea ice-free conditions enhance ocean uptake of CO2. We conducted two shipboard experiments in September 2015 and 2016 to examine the effects of temperature, CO2, and salinity on phytoplankton dynamics to better understand the impacts of rapid environmental changes on the Arctic ecosystem. Two temperature conditions (control: <3 and 5°C above the control), two CO2 levels (control: ∼300 and 300/450 μatm above the control; i.e., 600/750 μatm), and two salinity conditions (control: 29 in 2015 and 27 in 2016, and 1.4 below the control) conditions were fully factorially manipulated in eight treatments. Higher temperatures enhanced almost all phytoplankton traits in both experiments in terms of chl-a, accessory pigments and diatom biomass. The diatom diversity index decreased due to the replacement of chain-forming Thalassiosira spp. by solitary Cylindrotheca closterium or Pseudo-nitzschia spp. under higher temperature and lower salinity in combination. Higher CO2 levels significantly increased the growth of small-sized phytoplankton (<10 μm) in both years. Decreased salinity had marginal effects but significantly increased the growth of small-sized phytoplankton under higher CO2 levels in terms of chl-a in 2015. Our results suggest that the smaller phytoplankton tend to dominate in the shelf edge region of the Chukchi Sea in the western Arctic Ocean under multiple environmental perturbations.
Analysis of effects of environmental fluctuations on the marine mysid Neomysis awatschensis and its development as an experimental model animal
Published 26 December 2019 Science ClosedTags: biological response, crustaceans, laboratory, morphology, mortality, multiple factors, physiology, reproduction, salinity, temperature
Highlights
• Investigation of optimized culture conditions in temperature, salinity, and pH for mysid mass-culture and development as a laboratory model
• Identification of strong correlations between growth parameter and 20E level in environmental fluctuations
• Measurement of maternal effects of environmental fluctuations on second generation
Abstract
Mysids are experimental models and are among the most important food items for animals in aquaria and that support fisheries, and even for humans, but information on their performance in controlled culture systems is still limited. We reared the marine mysid Neomysis awatschensis in a controlled laboratory system, and measured its growth, 20–hydroxyecdysone (20E) levels, molting, and survival in response to environmental fluctuations in temperature, pH, and salinity, and inferred their potential associations based on annual field sampling. The 20E levels were significantly elevated during the postnauplioid stages, and even higher levels of 20E were maintained in the adult stages than in the nauplioid stages. Values of growth parameters (i.e. total length and the lengths of the antennal scale, expod, endopod, and telson) and 20E levels were higher during a 40-day period at 25 °C than at other temperatures, with shorter intermolt intervals, although morality was also increased. Among the surviving mysids, the number of newly hatched juveniles produced was higher for females exposed to 20 °C than that in other groups. Relatively higher growth and survival rates were measured at salinities over 25 practical salinity, while lower salinities under 15 practical salinity significantly reduced growth and survival. The number of newly hatched juveniles was lower at salinities under 15 practical salinity compared to those over 20 practical salinity. Overall, low temperature and salinity reduced mysid reproduction and the maintenance of the second generation. In the case of pH variation (pH of 7.0–8.0), there were no significant effects on growth and the number of newly hatched juveniles, although the survival rate was slightly lower and the 20E level fluctuated at a pH of 7.0. We believe that these associations between growth and environmental conditions can provide crucial information for optimizing mass mysid culture for experimental and ecotoxicological usage in the laboratory.
Ocean freshening and acidification differentially influences mortality and behavior of the Antarctic amphipod Gondogeneia antarctica
Published 3 December 2019 Science ClosedTags: Antarctic, biological response, crustaceans, laboratory, mortality, multiple factors, performance, salinity, zooplankton
Highlights
• Glacier retreat induced by global warming can decrease pH and salinity of the Antarctic ocean.
• The Antarctic amphipod Gondogeneia antarctica was exposed to low pH (7.6) and low salinity (27 psμ) conditions.
• Low pH increased mortality, impaired food detection, reduced shelter-use during daytime. .
• Low salinity increased cannibalism and induced abnormal swimming.
• Ocean acidification and freshening act as independent stressors influencing behavior and physiology of Antarctic amphipods.
Abstract
The Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) has experienced rapid atmospheric and ocean warming over the past few decades and many marine-terminating glaciers have considerably retreated. Glacial retreat is accompanied by fresh meltwater intrusion, which may result in the freshening and acidification of coastal waters. Marian Cove (MC), on King George Island in the WAP, undergoes one of the highest rates of glacial retreat. Intertidal and shallow subtidal waters are likely more susceptible to these processes, and sensitive biological responses are expected from the organisms inhabiting this area. The gammarid amphipod Gondogeneia antarctica is one of the most abundant species in the shallow, nearshore Antarctic waters, and it occupies an essential ecological niche in the coastal marine WAP ecosystem. In this study, we tested the sensitivity of G. antarctica to lowered salinity and pH by meltwater intrusion following glacial retreat. We exposed G. antarctica to four different treatments combining two salinities (34 and 27 psμ) and pH (8.0 and 7.6) levels for 26 days. Mortality, excluding cannibalized individuals, increased under low pH but decreased under low salinity conditions. Meanwhile, low salinity increased cannibalism, whereas low pH reduced food detection. Shelter use during the daytime decreased under each low salinity and pH condition, indicating that the two stressors act as disruptors of amphipod behavior. Under low salinity conditions, swimming increased during the daytime but decreased at night. Although interactions between low salinity and low pH were not observed during the experiment, the results suggest that each stressor, likely induced by glacial melting, causes altered behaviors in amphipods. These environmental factors may threaten population persistence in Marian Cove and possibly other similar glacial embayments.
Elevated carbon dioxide and reduced salinity enhance mangrove seedling establishment in an artificial saltmarsh community
Published 29 November 2019 Science ClosedTags: biological response, field, laboratory, mesocosms, morphology, multiple factors, salinity, South Pacific
The global phenomenon of mangrove encroachment into saltmarshes has been observed across five continents. It has been proposed that this encroachment is driven in part by rising atmospheric CO2 concentration and reduced salinity in saltmarshes resulting from rising sea levels enhancing the establishment success of mangrove seedlings. However, this theory is yet to be empirically tested at the community-level. In this study, we examined the effect of CO2 and salinity on seedling growth of two mangrove species, Aegiceras corniculatum and Avicennia marina, grown individually and in a model saltmarsh community in a glasshouse experiment. We found that the shoot (210%) and root (91%) biomass of the saltmarsh species was significantly greater under elevated CO2. As a result, both mangrove species experienced a stronger competitive effect from the saltmarsh species under elevated CO2. Nevertheless, A. marina seedlings produced on average 48% more biomass under elevated CO2 when grown in competition with the saltmarsh species. The seedlings tended to allocate this additional biomass to growing taller suggesting they were light limited. In contrast, A. corniculatum growth did not significantly differ between CO2 treatments. However, it had on average 36% greater growth under seawater salinity compared to hypersaline conditions. Avicennia marina seedlings were not affected by salinity. From these results, we suggest that although CO2 and salinity are not universal drivers determining saltmarsh–mangrove boundaries, it is likely that rising atmospheric CO2 concentration and reduced salinity associated with sea level rise will enhance the establishment success of mangrove seedlings in saltmarshes, which may facilitate mangrove encroachment in the future.
Reduced pH and elevated salinities affect the physiology of intertidal crab Minuca mordax (Crustacea, Decapoda)
Published 14 November 2019 Science ClosedTags: biological response, crustaceans, laboratory, mortality, multiple factors, physiology, salinity, South Atlantic
Minuca mordax is a model for studies on ocean acidification and sea-level rise because lives in mangroves and riverbanks with low pH. We investigated the physiology of the crabs exposed to differents pH (6.5 and 5.8) and salinity (25, 30, 35, 40 45S). There was not mortality or alterations in the hypo-osmoregulation, suggesting that the factors did not affect salt absorption/secretion. Reduced pH changed metabolism, ammonia excretion, and hepatosomatic index in relation to the animals kept in control pH. At elevated salinities, metabolism increased when animals were kept in control pH, but it decreased when they were exposed to acidified pH. energy substrate, varied between proteins to a mixture of proteins and lipids. Important physiological parameters, related to the catabolism of amino acids and to the energy demand are changed and the consequences might include alterations in growth and reproduction due to the energy channeling to limiting processes of homeostasis.
