Energetic Plasticity Underlies a Variable Response to Ocean Acidification in the Pteropod, Limacina Helicina Antarctica

Brad A. Seibel; Amy E. Maas; Heidi M. Dierssen

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0030464

Energetic Plasticity Underlies a Variable Response to Ocean Acidification in the Pteropod, Limacina Helicina Antarctica

Brad A. Seibel, Amy E. Maas, Heidi M. Dierssen

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Ocean acidification, caused by elevated seawater carbon dioxide levels, may have a deleterious impact on energetic processes in animals. Here we show that high PCO 2 can suppress metabolism, measured as oxygen consumption, in the pteropod, L. helicina forma antarctica , by &sim;20%. The rates measured at 180–380 µatm (MO 2 &hairsp;=&hairsp;1.25 M −0.25 , p&hairsp;=&hairsp;0.007) were significantly higher (ANCOVA, p &hairsp;=&hairsp; 0.004) than those measured at elevated target CO 2 levels in 2007 (789–1000 µatm, &hairsp;=&hairsp; 0.78 M −0.32 , p &hairsp;=&hairsp; 0.0008; <a> Fig. 1 </a> ). However, we further demonstrate metabolic plasticity in response to regional phytoplankton concentration and that the response to CO 2 is dependent on the baseline level of metabolism. We hypothesize that reduced regional Chl a levels in 2008 suppressed metabolism and masked the effect of ocean acidification. This effect of food limitation was not, we postulate, merely a result of gut clearance and specific dynamic action, but rather represents a sustained metabolic response to regional conditions. Thus, pteropod populations may be compromised by climate change, both directly via CO 2 -induced metabolic suppression, and indirectly via quantitative and qualitative changes to the phytoplankton community. Without the context provided by long-term observations (four seasons) and a multi-faceted laboratory analysis of the parameters affecting energetics, the complex response of polar pteropods to ocean acidification may be masked or misinterpreted.

Original language	American English
Journal	PLOS One
Volume	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0030464
State	Published - Jan 1 2012
Externally published	Yes

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Life Sciences

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title = "Energetic Plasticity Underlies a Variable Response to Ocean Acidification in the Pteropod, Limacina Helicina Antarctica",

abstract = " Ocean acidification, caused by elevated seawater carbon dioxide levels, may have a deleterious impact on energetic processes in animals. Here we show that high PCO 2 can suppress metabolism, measured as oxygen consumption, in the pteropod, L. helicina forma antarctica , by &sim;20%. The rates measured at 180–380 µatm (MO 2 &hairsp;=&hairsp;1.25 M −0.25 , p&hairsp;=&hairsp;0.007) were significantly higher (ANCOVA, p &hairsp;=&hairsp; 0.004) than those measured at elevated target CO 2 levels in 2007 (789–1000 µatm, &hairsp;=&hairsp; 0.78 M −0.32 , p &hairsp;=&hairsp; 0.0008; Fig. 1 ). However, we further demonstrate metabolic plasticity in response to regional phytoplankton concentration and that the response to CO 2 is dependent on the baseline level of metabolism. We hypothesize that reduced regional Chl a levels in 2008 suppressed metabolism and masked the effect of ocean acidification. This effect of food limitation was not, we postulate, merely a result of gut clearance and specific dynamic action, but rather represents a sustained metabolic response to regional conditions. Thus, pteropod populations may be compromised by climate change, both directly via CO 2 -induced metabolic suppression, and indirectly via quantitative and qualitative changes to the phytoplankton community. Without the context provided by long-term observations (four seasons) and a multi-faceted laboratory analysis of the parameters affecting energetics, the complex response of polar pteropods to ocean acidification may be masked or misinterpreted.",

author = "Seibel, {Brad A.} and Maas, {Amy E.} and Dierssen, {Heidi M.}",

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T1 - Energetic Plasticity Underlies a Variable Response to Ocean Acidification in the Pteropod, Limacina Helicina Antarctica

AU - Seibel, Brad A.

AU - Maas, Amy E.

AU - Dierssen, Heidi M.

PY - 2012/1/1

Y1 - 2012/1/1

N2 - Ocean acidification, caused by elevated seawater carbon dioxide levels, may have a deleterious impact on energetic processes in animals. Here we show that high PCO 2 can suppress metabolism, measured as oxygen consumption, in the pteropod, L. helicina forma antarctica , by &sim;20%. The rates measured at 180–380 µatm (MO 2 &hairsp;=&hairsp;1.25 M −0.25 , p&hairsp;=&hairsp;0.007) were significantly higher (ANCOVA, p &hairsp;=&hairsp; 0.004) than those measured at elevated target CO 2 levels in 2007 (789–1000 µatm, &hairsp;=&hairsp; 0.78 M −0.32 , p &hairsp;=&hairsp; 0.0008; Fig. 1 ). However, we further demonstrate metabolic plasticity in response to regional phytoplankton concentration and that the response to CO 2 is dependent on the baseline level of metabolism. We hypothesize that reduced regional Chl a levels in 2008 suppressed metabolism and masked the effect of ocean acidification. This effect of food limitation was not, we postulate, merely a result of gut clearance and specific dynamic action, but rather represents a sustained metabolic response to regional conditions. Thus, pteropod populations may be compromised by climate change, both directly via CO 2 -induced metabolic suppression, and indirectly via quantitative and qualitative changes to the phytoplankton community. Without the context provided by long-term observations (four seasons) and a multi-faceted laboratory analysis of the parameters affecting energetics, the complex response of polar pteropods to ocean acidification may be masked or misinterpreted.

AB - Ocean acidification, caused by elevated seawater carbon dioxide levels, may have a deleterious impact on energetic processes in animals. Here we show that high PCO 2 can suppress metabolism, measured as oxygen consumption, in the pteropod, L. helicina forma antarctica , by &sim;20%. The rates measured at 180–380 µatm (MO 2 &hairsp;=&hairsp;1.25 M −0.25 , p&hairsp;=&hairsp;0.007) were significantly higher (ANCOVA, p &hairsp;=&hairsp; 0.004) than those measured at elevated target CO 2 levels in 2007 (789–1000 µatm, &hairsp;=&hairsp; 0.78 M −0.32 , p &hairsp;=&hairsp; 0.0008; Fig. 1 ). However, we further demonstrate metabolic plasticity in response to regional phytoplankton concentration and that the response to CO 2 is dependent on the baseline level of metabolism. We hypothesize that reduced regional Chl a levels in 2008 suppressed metabolism and masked the effect of ocean acidification. This effect of food limitation was not, we postulate, merely a result of gut clearance and specific dynamic action, but rather represents a sustained metabolic response to regional conditions. Thus, pteropod populations may be compromised by climate change, both directly via CO 2 -induced metabolic suppression, and indirectly via quantitative and qualitative changes to the phytoplankton community. Without the context provided by long-term observations (four seasons) and a multi-faceted laboratory analysis of the parameters affecting energetics, the complex response of polar pteropods to ocean acidification may be masked or misinterpreted.

UR - https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/2326

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DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0030464

M3 - Article

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JO - PLOS One

JF - PLOS One

ER -

Energetic Plasticity Underlies a Variable Response to Ocean Acidification in the Pteropod, Limacina Helicina Antarctica

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