Medium-term exposure of the North Atlantic copepod <i>Calanus finmarchicus</i> (Gunnerus, 1770) to CO<sub>2</sub>-acidified seawater: effects on survival and development
The impact of medium-term exposure to CO<sub>2</sub>-acidified seawater on survival, growth and development was investigated in the North Atlantic copepod <i>Calanus finmarchicus</i>. Using a custom developed experimental system, fertilized eggs and subsequent development sta...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2013-11-01
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| Series: | Biogeosciences |
| Online Access: | http://www.biogeosciences.net/10/7481/2013/bg-10-7481-2013.pdf |
| Summary: | The impact of medium-term exposure to CO<sub>2</sub>-acidified seawater on
survival, growth and development was investigated in the North Atlantic
copepod <i>Calanus finmarchicus</i>. Using a custom developed experimental
system, fertilized eggs and subsequent development stages were exposed to
normal seawater (390 ppm CO<sub>2</sub>) or one of three different levels of
CO<sub>2</sub>-induced acidification (3300, 7300, 9700 ppm CO<sub>2</sub>). Following
the 28-day exposure period, survival was found to be unaffected by exposure
to 3300 ppm CO<sub>2</sub>, but significantly reduced at 7300 and 9700 ppm
CO<sub>2</sub>. Also, the proportion of copepodite stages IV to VI observed in the
different treatments was significantly affected in a manner that may indicate
a CO<sub>2</sub>-induced retardation of the rate of ontogenetic development.
Morphometric analysis revealed a significant increase in size (prosome
length) and lipid storage volume in stage IV copepodites exposed to 3300 ppm
CO<sub>2</sub> and reduced size in stage III copepodites exposed to 7300 ppm
CO<sub>2</sub>. Together, the findings indicate that a <i>p</i>CO<sub>2</sub> level ≤2000 ppm (the highest CO<sub>2</sub> level expected by the year 2300) will
probably not directly affect survival in <i>C. finmarchicus</i>.
Longer term experiments at more moderate CO<sub>2</sub> levels are, however,
necessary before the possibility that growth and development may be affected
below 2000 ppm CO<sub>2</sub> can be ruled out. |
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| ISSN: | 1726-4170 1726-4189 |