Dynamic energy budget modeling of Atlantic surfclam, Spisula solidissima, under future ocean acidification and warming

A dynamic energy budget (DEB) model integrating pCO(2) was used to describe ocean acidification (OA) effects on Atlantic surfclam, Spisula solidissima, bioenergetics. Effects of elevated pCO(2) on ingestion and somatic mainte-nance costs were simulated, validated, and adapted in the DEB model based upon growth and biological rates acquired during a 12-week laboratory experiment. Temperature and pCO(2) were projected for the next 100 years following the intergovernmental panel on climate change representative concentration pathways scenarios (2.6, 6.0, and 8.5) and used as forcing variables to project surfclam growth and reproduction. End-of-century water warming and acidification conditions resulted in simulated faster growth for young surfclams and more energy allocated to reproduction until the beginning of the 22nd century when a reduction in maximum shell length and energy allocated to reproduction was observed for the RCP 8.5 scenario.

Automated summary

A dynamic energy budget model was used to study the effects of ocean acidification on Atlantic surfclam bioenergetics. The simulation results showed that future warming and acidification conditions would result in faster growth and increased energy allocation for reproduction in young surfclams, but a reduction in maximum shell length and energy allocated to reproduction was observed by the beginning of the 22nd century according to the RCP 8.5 scenario.