Ocean acidification induces multi-generational decline in copepod naupliar production with possible conflict for reproductive resource allocation

Fitzer, S.C. , Caldwell, G.S., Close, A.J., Clare, A.S., Upstill-Goddard, R.C. and Bentley, M.G. (2012) Ocean acidification induces multi-generational decline in copepod naupliar production with possible conflict for reproductive resource allocation. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 418-19, pp. 30-36. (doi: 10.1016/j.jembe.2012.03.009)

Abstract

Climate change, including ocean acidification (OA), presents fundamental challenges to marine biodiversity and sustained ecosystem health. We determined reproductive response (measured as naupliar production), cuticle composition and stage specific growth of the copepod Tisbe battagliai over three generations at four pH conditions (pH 7.67, 7.82, 7.95, and 8.06). Naupliar production increased significantly at pH 7.95 compared with pH 8.06 followed by a decline at pH 7.82. Naupliar production at pH 7.67 was higher than pH 7.82. We attribute the increase at pH 7.95 to an initial stress response which was succeeded by a hormesis-like response at pH 7.67. A multi-generational modelling approach predicted a gradual decline in naupliar production over the next 100 years (equivalent to approximately 2430 generations). There was a significant growth reduction (mean length integrated across developmental stage) relative to controls. There was a significant increase in the proportion of carbon relative to oxygen within the cuticle as seawater pH decreased. Changes in growth, cuticle composition and naupliar production strongly suggest that copepods subjected to OA-induced stress preferentially reallocate resources towards maintaining reproductive output at the expense of somatic growth and cuticle composition. These responses may drive shifts in life history strategies that favour smaller brood sizes, females and perhaps later maturing females, with the potential to profoundly destabilise marine trophodynamics.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Fitzer, Dr Susan
• Authors: Fitzer, S.C., Caldwell, G.S., Close, A.J., Clare, A.S., Upstill-Goddard, R.C., and Bentley, M.G.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences > Earth Sciences
• Journal Name: Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
• ISSN: 0022-0981
• Published Online: 17 April 2012
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2012 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 418-419:30-36
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher