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Respiration, calcification, and excretion of the invasive slipper limpet, Crepidula fornicata L.: Implications for carbon, carbonate, and nitrogen fluxes in affected areas
Author(s) -
Martin Sophie,
Thouzeau Gérard,
Chauvaud Laurent,
Jean Frédéric,
Guérin Laurent,
Clavier Jacques
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.2006.51.5.1996
Subject(s) - respiration , zoology , excretion , carbonate , limpet , environmental chemistry , respiration rate , ammonium , chemistry , carbon dioxide , biology , ecology , botany , biochemistry , mollusca , organic chemistry
We measured in situ respiration, calcification, and excretion of the slipper limpet, Crepidula fornicata L., and considered both seasonal variations and individual size, to estimate the effects of this exotic species on annual budgets of carbon, carbonate, and nitrogen in the Bay of Brest (France). Respiration, calcification, and excretion rates changed significantly with size and season. Oxygen consumption varied from 6 to 63 µmol O 2 g ‐1 ash‐free dry weight (AF dry wt) h ‐1 , which corresponded to a carbon dioxide release that ranged from 2 to 44 µmol CO2 g ‐1 AF dry wt h ‐1 . Maximum respiration rates were observed in summer, and minimum rates were observed in winter. CaCO 3 production ranged from 24 to 44 µmol CaCO 3 g ‐1 AF dry wt h21 from winter to summer, respectively. Ammonium release varied from 0.7 to 3.1 µmol NH 4 + g ‐1 AF dry wt h ‐1 , with the highest excretion rate in spring. Total carbon release by C. fornicata in highly colonized zones in the Bay of Brest averaged 290 g C m ‐2 yr ‐1 , carbonate production was ~515 g CaCO 3 m ‐2 yr ‐1 , and nitrogen production by ammonium excretion was ~25 g N m ‐2 yr ‐1 . C. fornicata respiration and excretion account for 55% and 85% of the benthic community respiration and excretion, respectively. These results illustrate the importance of this invasive species to carbon and nitrogen cycles, including biogenic carbonate production, in coastal ecosystems.