Abstract
Ocean acidification threatens organisms that produce calcium carbonate shells by potentially generating an under-saturated carbonate environment. Resultant reduced calcification and growth, and subsequent dissolution of exoskeletons, would raise concerns over the ability of the shell to provide protection for the marine organism under ocean acidification and increased temperatures. We examined the impact of combined ocean acidification and temperature increase on shell formation of the economically important edible mussel Mytilus edulis. Shell growth and thickness along with a shell thickness index and shape analysis were determined. The ability of M. edulis to produce a functional protective shell after 9 months of experimental culture under ocean acidification and increasing temperatures (380, 550, 750, 1000 μatm pCO2, and 750, 1000 μatm pCO2 + 2°C) was assessed. Mussel shells grown under ocean acidification conditions displayed significant reductions in shell aragonite thickness, shell thickness index, and changes to shell shape (750, 1000 μatm pCO2) compared to those shells grown under ambient conditions (380 μatm pCO2). Ocean acidification resulted in rounder, flatter mussel shells with thinner aragonite layers likely to be more vulnerable to fracture under changing environments and predation. The changes in shape presented here could present a compensatory mechanism to enhance protection against predators and changing environments under ocean acidification when mussels are unable to grow thicker shells. Here, we present the first assessment of mussel shell shape to determine implications for functional protection under ocean acidification.
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 4875-4884 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Trends in Ecology and Evolution |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue number | 21 |
| Early online date | 12 Oct 2015 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Nov 2015 |
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Keywords
- biomineralization
- CO
- mussels
- ocean acidification
- shell shape
- shell thickness
- temperature
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Ocean acidification and temperature increase impact mussel shell shape and thickness : problematic for protection? / Fitzer, Susan C.; Vittert, Liberty; Bowman, Adrian; Kamenos, Nicholas A.; Phoenix, Vernon R.; Cusack, Maggie.
In: Trends in Ecology and Evolution, Vol. 5, No. 21, 01.11.2015, p. 4875-4884.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Ocean acidification and temperature increase impact mussel shell shape and thickness
T2 - Trends in Ecology and Evolution
AU - Fitzer, Susan C.
AU - Vittert, Liberty
AU - Bowman, Adrian
AU - Kamenos, Nicholas A.
AU - Phoenix, Vernon R.
AU - Cusack, Maggie
PY - 2015/11/1
Y1 - 2015/11/1
N2 - Ocean acidification threatens organisms that produce calcium carbonate shells by potentially generating an under-saturated carbonate environment. Resultant reduced calcification and growth, and subsequent dissolution of exoskeletons, would raise concerns over the ability of the shell to provide protection for the marine organism under ocean acidification and increased temperatures. We examined the impact of combined ocean acidification and temperature increase on shell formation of the economically important edible mussel Mytilus edulis. Shell growth and thickness along with a shell thickness index and shape analysis were determined. The ability of M. edulis to produce a functional protective shell after 9 months of experimental culture under ocean acidification and increasing temperatures (380, 550, 750, 1000 μatm pCO2, and 750, 1000 μatm pCO2 + 2°C) was assessed. Mussel shells grown under ocean acidification conditions displayed significant reductions in shell aragonite thickness, shell thickness index, and changes to shell shape (750, 1000 μatm pCO2) compared to those shells grown under ambient conditions (380 μatm pCO2). Ocean acidification resulted in rounder, flatter mussel shells with thinner aragonite layers likely to be more vulnerable to fracture under changing environments and predation. The changes in shape presented here could present a compensatory mechanism to enhance protection against predators and changing environments under ocean acidification when mussels are unable to grow thicker shells. Here, we present the first assessment of mussel shell shape to determine implications for functional protection under ocean acidification.
AB - Ocean acidification threatens organisms that produce calcium carbonate shells by potentially generating an under-saturated carbonate environment. Resultant reduced calcification and growth, and subsequent dissolution of exoskeletons, would raise concerns over the ability of the shell to provide protection for the marine organism under ocean acidification and increased temperatures. We examined the impact of combined ocean acidification and temperature increase on shell formation of the economically important edible mussel Mytilus edulis. Shell growth and thickness along with a shell thickness index and shape analysis were determined. The ability of M. edulis to produce a functional protective shell after 9 months of experimental culture under ocean acidification and increasing temperatures (380, 550, 750, 1000 μatm pCO2, and 750, 1000 μatm pCO2 + 2°C) was assessed. Mussel shells grown under ocean acidification conditions displayed significant reductions in shell aragonite thickness, shell thickness index, and changes to shell shape (750, 1000 μatm pCO2) compared to those shells grown under ambient conditions (380 μatm pCO2). Ocean acidification resulted in rounder, flatter mussel shells with thinner aragonite layers likely to be more vulnerable to fracture under changing environments and predation. The changes in shape presented here could present a compensatory mechanism to enhance protection against predators and changing environments under ocean acidification when mussels are unable to grow thicker shells. Here, we present the first assessment of mussel shell shape to determine implications for functional protection under ocean acidification.
KW - biomineralization
KW - CO
KW - mussels
KW - ocean acidification
KW - shell shape
KW - shell thickness
KW - temperature
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84945892330&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/ece3.1756
DO - 10.1002/ece3.1756
M3 - Article
VL - 5
SP - 4875
EP - 4884
JO - Trends in Ecology and Evolution
JF - Trends in Ecology and Evolution
SN - 0169-5347
IS - 21
ER -