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Can variable pH and low oxygen moderate ocean acidification outcomes for mussel larvae?
Author(s) -
Frieder Christina A.,
Gonzalez Jennifer P.,
Bockmon Emily E.,
Navarro Michael O.,
Levin Lisa A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
global change biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.146
H-Index - 255
eISSN - 1365-2486
pISSN - 1354-1013
DOI - 10.1111/gcb.12485
Subject(s) - ocean acidification , mytilus , mussel , biology , veliger , larva , ecology , environmental chemistry , seawater , chemistry
Natural variation and changing climate in coastal oceans subject meroplanktonic organisms to broad ranges of pH and oxygen ([O 2 ]) levels. In controlled‐laboratory experiments we explored the interactive effects of pH , [O 2 ], and semidiurnal pH fluctuations on the survivorship, development, and size of early life stages of two mytilid mussels, Mytilus californianus and M. galloprovincialis . Survivorship of larvae was unaffected by low pH , low [O 2 ], or semidiurnal fluctuations for both mytilid species. Low pH (<7.6) resulted in delayed transition from the trochophore to veliger stage, but this effect of low pH was absent when incorporating semidiurnal fluctuations in both species. Also at low pH , larval shells were smaller and had greater variance; this effect was absent when semidiurnal fluctuations of 0.3 units were incorporated at low pH for M. galloprovincialis but not for M. californianus . Low [O 2 ] in combination with low pH had no effect on larval development and size, indicating that early life stages of mytilid mussels are largely tolerant to a broad range of [O 2 ] reflective of their environment (80–260 μ mol kg −1 ). The role of pH variability should be recognized as an important feature in coastal oceans that has the capacity to modulate the effects of ocean acidification on biological responses.