The short and long-term implications of warming and increased sea water pCO2 on the physiological response of a temperate neogastropod species

Abstract

Global average temperatures and seawater pCO2 have rapidly increased due to the oceanic uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide producing severe consequences for a broad range of species. The impacts on marine ectotherms have been largely reported at short-term scales (i.e. from days to weeks); however, the prolonged effects on long-term processes such as reproduction have received little attention. The gastropod Ocenebra erinaceus is a key predator structuring communities on rocky shores of the French and UK coasts. Even though rocky shore species are regarded as being very tolerant to changes in temperature and pH, many of them are living near their upper tolerance limits, making them susceptible to rapid environmental changes. Here, we report that future mean seawater conditions (RCP8.5, + 3 °C and ~ 900 μatm CO2) do not significantly affect the physiology and molecular response of O. erinaceus adults after 132 days. During the first 50 days, there was a slight impact on oxygen consumption rates and body weight; however, after 95 days of exposure, gastropods fully acclimated to the experimental condition. Despite this, reproduction in females exposed to these future seawater conditions ceased after long-term exposure (~ 10 months). Therefore, in the short-term, O. erinaceus appear to be capable of full compensation; however, in the long-term, they fail to invest in reproduction. We conclude studies should be based on combined results from both short- and long-term effects, to present realistic projections of the ecological consequences of climate warming.

Response to ‘Comment on Wyrwoll et al., 2022: Long‐term exposure of mice to 890 ppm atmospheric CO2 alters growth trajectories and hyperactive behaviours in adults’ by Norman R. Saunders and Mark D. Habgood

“…We acknowledge that an ∼0.67 to ∼1% change in this parameter is small, and it may well be insufficient to elicit any effects in healthy adult humans, but there is now considerable evidence from a multitude of sources that exposure to even smaller increases for shorter durations can impact physiology in a range of species. For example, in addition to our studies (Larcombe et al., 2021; Wyrwoll et al., 2022), two recent studies have shown that 6−10 months of exposure to 700−900 ppm CO 2 reduced growth and led to reproductive failure in gastropods (Mardones et al., 2022; Navarro et al., 2022). In perhaps more relevant mammalian systems, Martrette et al.…”

CO2‐induced seawater acidification impairs the stinging cells of a jellyfish

“…These findings suggest that short‐term adaptation cannot or at least cannot completely compensate for the damage caused by acidification. Further, it is meaningful to establish a long‐term acidification exposure experiment and continuous physiological indicators and gene expression monitoring to determine the degree of acclimation and compensation for long‐term acidification by A. coerulea , which will be the focus of our future research (Wang et al 2020; Mardones et al 2022).…”

Effects of acclimation temperature and exposure time on the scope for growth of the blackfoot Pāua (Haliotis iris)

“…Although increasing temperature is known to significantly affect the activity, physiology and energy balance of marine ectotherms (Bayne and Newell 1983;Cossins and Bowler 1987;Somero 2012), prolonged periods of energy imbalance could affect an organism's growth, reproduction and performance. Some marine molluscs, however, can adapt, acclimate or acclimatise to changing temperatures, which helps them maintain energy balance (Peck et al 2014;Mardones et al 2022). Those species with poor acclimation capacity may be unable to adjust to increased temperatures associated with climate change, global warming and marine heatwaves.…”