Warming and pCO2 effects on Florida stone crab larvae. (1st May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gravinese, Philip M.; Enochs, Ian C.; Manzello, Derek P.; van Woesik, Robert
• Is Part Of: Estuarine, coastal and shelf science. Volume 204(2018)
• Page Start: 193
• Page End: 201
• Publication Date: 2018-05-01
• Subjects: Ocean acidification -- Climate change -- Crustacean -- Larval development -- Elevated pCO2 -- Elevated temperature -- pH; Estuarine oceanography -- Periodicals; Coasts -- Periodicals; Estuarine biology -- Periodicals; Seashore biology -- Periodicals; Coasts; Estuarine biology; Estuarine oceanography; Seashore biology; Periodicals; 551.461805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2018.02.021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-7714

Abstract

Abstract: Greenhouse gas emissions are increasing ocean temperatures and the partial pressure of CO2 ( p CO2 ), resulting in more acidic waters. It is presently unknown how elevated temperature and p CO2 will influence the early life history stages of the majority of marine coastal species. We investigated the combined effect of elevated temperature (30 °C control and 32 °C treatment) and elevated p CO2 (450 μatm control and 1100 μatm treatment) on the (i) growth, (ii) survival, (iii) condition, and (iv) morphology of larvae of the commercially important Florida stone crab, Menippe mercenaria . At elevated temperature, larvae exhibited a significantly shorter molt stage, and elevated p CO2 caused stage-V larvae to delay metamorphosis to post-larvae. On average, elevated p CO2 resulted in a 37% decrease in survivorship relative to the control; however the effect of elevated temperature reduced larval survivorship by 71%. Exposure to both elevated temperature and p CO2 reduced larval survivorship by 80% relative to the control. Despite this, no significant differences were detected in the condition or morphology of stone crab larvae when subjected to elevated temperature and p CO2 treatments. Although elevated p CO2 could result in a reduction in larval supply, future increases in seawater temperatures are even more likely to threaten the future sustainability of the stone-crab fishery. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Elevated p CO2 reduced larval survivorship by 37%, and elevated temperature reduced larval survival by 71%. Combined stressors reduced larval survivorship to megalopae by 80%. Larval morphology and ash free dry weight were not different among treatments. Variability among broods suggests there is potential for adaptation within the species.