Energetic lipid responses of larval oysters to ocean acidification

Climate change will increase energetic demands on marine invertebrate larvae and make planktonic food more unpredictable. This study determined the impact of ocean acidification on larval energetics of the oysters Saccostrea glomerata and Crassostrea gigas. Larvae of both oysters were reared until the 9-day-old, umbonate stage under orthogonal combinations of ambient and elevated p CO 2 (340 and 856 mu atm) and food was limited. Elevated p CO 2 reduced the survival, size and larval energetics, larvae of C. gigas being more resilient than S. glomerata. When larvae were fed, elevated p CO 2 reduced lipid levels across all lipid classes. When larvae were unfed elevated p CO 2 resulted in increased lipid levels and mortality. Ocean acidification and food will interact to limit larval energetics. Larvae of S. glomerata will be more impacted than C. gigas and this is of concern given their aquacultural status and ecological function.

Automated summary

This study investigated the impact of ocean acidification on larval energetics of oysters and found that elevated p CO2 reduced survival, size, and lipid levels across all lipid classes. Larvae of Saccostrea glomerata were more impacted than Crassostrea gigas, especially when food was limited, highlighting concerns for their aquacultural status and ecological function.