Journal
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Volume 51, Issue 7, Pages 3640-3648Publisher
AMER CHEMICAL SOC
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b05138
Keywords
-
Categories
Funding
- FNRS grant [J.0219.16 SOFTECHI]
- Communaute Francaise de Belgique
- Fonds Agathon de Potter
- Fonds Leopold III
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Echinoderms are considered particularly sensitive to ocean acidification (OA) as their skeleton is made of high-magnesium calcite, one of the most soluble forms of calcium carbonate. Recent studies have investigated effects of OA on the skeleton of classical sea urchins (euechinoids), but the impact of etching on skeleton mechanical properties is almost unknown. Furthermore, the integrity of the skeleton of cidaroids has never been assessed, although their extracellular fluid is under-saturated with respect to their skeleton, and the skeleton of their primary spines is in direct contact with seawater. In this study, we compared the dissolution of test plates and spines as well as the spine mechanical properties (two-points bending tests) in a cidaroid (Eucidaris tribuloides) and a euechinoid (Tripneustes ventricosus) submitted to a 5 week acidification experiment (pH(T) of 8.1, 7.7, and 7.4). Test plates of both species were not affected by dissolution. The spines of E. tribuloides showed no mechanical effects at pH(SW-T)T 7.4 despite having traces of corrosion on secondary spines. On the contrary, spines of the T. ventricosus were significantly etched at both pH(SW-T) 7.7 and 7.4 and their fracture force reduced by 16 to 35%, respectively. This increased brittleness is probably of little significance with regards to predation protection but has consequences in terms of energy allocation.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available