An amphibious mode of life in the intertidal zone: aerial and underwater contribution of Chthamalus montagui to CO2 fluxes

Abstract

International audienceThe contribution of the intertidal barnacle Chthamalus montagui to CO2 fluxes via respiration and calcification was measured both in the air and underwater. The mean biomass of the species was 44.92 g ash-free dry weight (AFDW) m–2 on the coast of Brittany, France. Underwater respiration, determined from changes in dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), fluctuated from 6.14 µmol g–1 h–1 in winter to 13.37 µmol g–1 h–1 in summer. The contribution of C. montagui respiration to DIC fluxes for an average daily immersion time of 8 h was 3.21 mmol m–2 d–1. Mean aerial CO2 respiration was estimated at 7.60 µmol g–1 h–1 using an infrared gas analyser, corresponding to 5.46 mmol m–2 d–1 if the mean daily emersion time is 16 h. Net calcification was positive, with a mean value of 1.01 µmol g–1 h–1, corresponding to a CO2 flux of 0.25 mmol m–2 d–1. The total mean daily emission of CO2 by C. montagui populations was 8.92 mmol m–2 d–1. The annual carbon production by the species was 39.07 g m–2 yr–1 with relative contributions by aerial respiration, underwater respiration and net calcification of 61, 36 and 3%, respectively. The daily ratio of aerial:underwater carbon emission was 1.7, emphasizing the prevalence of aerial respiration and the metabolic adaptation of C. montagui to amphibious lif

Respiration and Calcification of Crassostrea gigas: Contribution of an Intertidal Invasive Species to Coastal Ecosystem CO2 Fluxes

“…When assessed by a method similar to that in this study, this ratio was 14% for C. fornicata (Martin et al 2006) and only 3% for Chthamalus montagui (Clavier et al 2009) near the Bay of Brest. Using the calcimass method, Chauvaud et al (2003) found that 33% of the total carbon flux produced by P. amurensis in the San Francisco Bay was released by the production of CaCO 3 .…”

“…Simpfendorfer et al (1995) demonstrated that the strategies employed by these species are largely determined by their position in the intertidal zone. Barnacles, usually found in the upper part of the shore, have high rates of aerial respiration that can reach 100% of their underwater rates (Simpfendorfer et al 1995;Clavier et al 2009). Aerial respiration rates of bivalves in the mid-tide zone have been found to range from 30% to 87% of underwater respiration (Simpfendorfer et al 1995;Marsden and Weatherhead 1998;Huang and Newell 2002).…”

“…gigas preferentially settles on intertidal rocky substrates that are primarily dominated by barnacles. Several recent studies suggesting that barnacle respiration and calcification represent a net source of CO 2 (Gollety et al 2008;Clavier et al 2009), given the massive C. gigas proliferation on rocky shores, it is essential to assess the related atmospheric CO 2 contribution. C. gigas undergoes the immersion/emersion cycles of the tides and while its underwater respiration rate has been estimated (Gerdes 1983;Bougrier et al 1995;Ren et al 2000;Mao et al 2006), its aerial respiration rate has never been measured.…”

Variability in diel and seasonal in situ metabolism of the tropical gastropod Tectus niloticus

“…Respiration and biocalcification of marine animals such as molluscs can be a source of CO 2 into the ecosystem and their role in the carbon cycle has been demonstrated in temperate environments (Chauvaud et al 2003, Clavier et al 2009, Lejart et al 2012, Mistri & Munari 2013. This contribution can be assessed empirically through oxygen respiratory fluxes converted to carbon using available respiratory quotients (Boucher & Clavier 1995) or by directly assessing carbon metabolism through respiration and calcification measurements (e.g.…”

Impacts of temperature and acidification on larval calcium incorporation of the spider crab Hyas araneus from different latitudes (54° vs. 79°N)

“…Similar to Hyas araneus from Svalbard, the barnacle Chtalamus montagui (Clavier et al 2009), and the crayfish Asthacus asthacus (Lahti 1988) displayed a temperaturedependent level of calcification. Ostracods (Herpetocypris intermedia), living between 13 and 20°C, also demonstrated a temperature-dependent calcification rate, with decreased moulting and calcification rates associated with reduced survival at the low end of the temperature range (Mezquita et al 1999).…”