Long-term exposure to elevated pCO2 more than warming modifies juvenile shell growth patterns in a temperate gastropod

Ruhl, S, Calosi, P, Faulwetter, S, Keklikoglou, K, Widdicombe, S and Queiros, AM 2017 Long-term exposure to elevated pCO2 more than warming modifies juvenile shell growth patterns in a temperate gastropod. ICES Journal of Marine Science. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsw242

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Abstract/Summary

Co-occurring global change drivers, such as ocean warming and acidification, can have large impacts on the behaviour, physiology, and health of marine organisms. However, whilst early-life stages are thought to be most sensitive to these impacts, little is known about the individual level processes by which such impacts take place. Here, using mesocosm experiments simulating ocean warming (OW) and ocean acidification (OA) conditions expected for the NE Atlantic region by 2100 using a variety of treatments of elevated pCO2 and temperature. We investigated their impacts on bio-mineralization, microstructure, and ontogeny of Nucella lapillus (L.) juveniles, a common gastropod predator that exerts important top-down controls on biodiversity patterns in temperate rocky shores. The shell of juveniles hatched in mesocosms during a 14 month long experiment were analysed using micro-CT scanning, 3D geometric morphometrics, and scanning-electron microscopy. Elevated temperature and age determined shell density, length, width, thickness, elemental chemistry, shape, and shell surface damages. However, co-occurring elevated pCO2 modified the impacts of elevated temperature, in line with expected changes in carbonate chemistry driven by temperature. Young N. lapillus from acidified treatments had weaker shells and were therefore expected to be more vulnerable to predation and environmental pressures such as wave action. However, in some instances, the effects of both higher CO2 content and elevated temperature appeared to have reversed as the individuals aged. This study suggests that compensatory development may therefore occur, and that expected increases in juvenile mortality under OA and OW may be counteracted, to some degree, by high plasticity in shell formation in this species. This feature may prove advantageous for N. lapillus community dynamics in near-future conditions.

Item Type: Publication - Article
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.: This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in ICES Journal of Marine Science following peer review. The final version of record is available online at: https://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article/74/4/1113/3059862.
Additional Keywords: Climate change, CT scanning, early-life stage, electron microscopy, Juvenile, Mollusc, ocean acidification, ocean warming
Subjects: Aquaculture
Atmospheric Sciences
Biology
Chemistry
Conservation
Data and Information
Earth Sciences
Ecology and Environment
Management
Marine Sciences
Meteorology and Climatology
Pollution
Technology
Zoology
Divisions: Plymouth Marine Laboratory > Science Areas > Marine Ecology and Biodiversity
Depositing User: Dr Ana Queiros
Date made live: 17 Jan 2017 16:52
Last Modified: 25 Apr 2020 09:58
URI: https://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/7337

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