The metabolic response of pteropods to acidification reflects natural CO2-exposure in oxygen minimum zones

[摘要] Shelled pteropods (Thecosomata) are a group of holoplanktonic mollusks thatare believed to be especially sensitive to ocean acidification because theiraragonitic shells are highly soluble. Despite this concern, there is verylittle known about the physiological response of these animals to conditionsof elevated carbon dioxide. This study examines the oxygen consumption andammonia excretion of five pteropod species, collected from tropical regionsof the Pacific Ocean, to elevated levels of carbon dioxide (0.10%, 1000 ppm).Our results show that pteropods that naturally migrate into oxygenminimum zones, such as Hyalocylis striata, Clio pyramidata, Cavolinia longirostris andCreseis virgula, were not affected by carbon dioxide at the levelsand duration tested. Diacria quadridentata, which does not migrate, responds to high carbon dioxideconditions with reduced oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion. Thisindicates that the natural chemical environment of individual species mayinfluence their resilience to ocean acidification.

[学科分类] 地球化学与岩石