Journal
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY
Volume 446, Issue -, Pages 355-362Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.jembe.2013.06.003
Keywords
Acid-base balance; Asterias rubens; Echinoderms; Metabolism; Ocean acidification; Tube foot mechanical properties
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Funding
- Belgian FRIA grant
- Science and Technology Foundation (Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia, Portugal) [SFRH/BM/21387/2005]
- FRFC Contract [2.4532.07]
- Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia [SFRH/BM/21387/2005] Funding Source: FCT
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The increase in atmospheric CO2 due to anthropogenic activity results in an acidification of the surface waters of the oceans. Its impact will depend on the considered organisms and ecosystems. The intertidal may harbor organisms pre-adapted to the upcoming changes as they face tidal pH and temperature fluctuations. However, these environments will be more affected as shallow waters will face the highest decrease in seawater pH. In this context, the effects of reduced environmental pH on the physiology and tube feet mechanical properties of the intertidal starfish Asterias rubens, a top predator, were investigated during 15 and 27 days. A. rubens showed a respiratory acidosis with its coelomic fluid pH always lower than that of seawater. This acidosis was most pronounced at pH 7.4. Notwithstanding, the starfish showed no significant variations in RNA/DNA ratio of different tissues and in tube feet strength. However, respiration rates were significantly lower for individuals maintained at reduced seawater pH. Within the ocean acidification context, the present results suggest that A. rubens withstands the effects of reduced seawater pH, at least for medium term exposures. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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