Water quality variation and clam growth: Is pH really a non-issue in estuaries?

Ringwood, Amy H.; Keppler, Charles J.

doi:10.1007/bf02691338

Cited by 118 publications

(85 citation statements)

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“…In estuaries, although salinity changes and low dissolved oxygen levels are often regarded as major parameters affecting the distribution and physiological performance of estuarine species, recent studies indicate that pH also is a very important parameter. Ringwood and Keppler (2002) showed that the growth rate of juvenile clams, M. mercenaria, is tightly linked to pH conditions, being significantly reduced when pH levels fell below 7.5 (scale unknown) in comparison with higher pH conditions. In the Sungai Brunei estuary, Marshall et al (2008) observed that shell dissolution in populations of the gastropod whelk, Thais gradata, correlated negatively with pH.…”

Section: Field Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of ocean acidification on marine shelled molluscs

et al. 2013

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Over the next century, elevated quantities of atmospheric CO 2 are expected to penetrate into the oceans, causing a reduction in pH (-0.3/-0.4 pH unit in the surface ocean) and in the concentration of carbonate ions (so-called ocean acidification). Of growing concern are the impacts that this will have on marine and estuarine organisms and ecosystems. Marine shelled molluscs, which colonized a large latitudinal gradient and can be found from intertidal to deep-sea habitats, are economically and ecologically important species providing essential ecosystem services including habitat structure for benthic organisms, water purification and a food source for other organisms. The effects of ocean acidification on the growth and shell production by juvenile and adult shelled molluscs are variable among species and even within the same species, precluding the drawing of a general picture. This is, however, not the case for pteropods, with all species tested so far, being negatively impacted by ocean acidification. The blood of shelled molluscs may exhibit lower pH with consequences for several physiological processes (e.g. respiration, excretion, etc.) and, in some cases, increased mortality in the long term. While fertilization may remain unaffected by elevated pCO 2 , embryonic and larval development will be highly sensitive with important reductions in size and decreased survival of larvae, increases in the number of abnormal larvae and an increase in the developmental time. There are big gaps in the current understanding of the biological consequences of an Communicated by S. Dupont.Frédéric Gazeau and Laura M. Parker have contributed equally to this work.Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article

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Section: Field Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of ocean acidification on marine shelled molluscs

et al. 2013

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“…While the detrimental effects of hypoxia and acidification on marine life have been well-studied, the combined impacts of these stressors are poorly understood . Early-life stage bivalves are spawned during early-summer months, a period when pH and DO can be concurrently low but also undergo sharp diurnal changes (Ringwood and Keppler, 2002;Wootton et al, 2008;Baumann et al, 2014). Prior studies investigating the effects of continuous acidification and hypoxia on early-life stage bivalves have found these stressors can have additive and synergisticallynegative effects and that diurnal variation in these conditions do not provide a refuge for larval-stage bivalves (Clark and Gobler, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A growing body of literature has documented the common and widespread nature of concurrent hypoxia and acidification in estuaries, particularly those that are eutrophic (Cai et al, 2011;Melzner et al, 2012;Wallace et al, 2014) and has shown that these conditions can be chronic or can vary diurnally in parallel with ecosystem metabolism (Ringwood and Keppler, 2002;Yates et al, 2007;Baumann et al, 2014). Due to the intimate linkage of DO and CO 2 associated with photosynthesis and respiration, the examination of only acidification or hypoxia without consideration of the other costressor is environmentally unrealistic.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly, in shallow, eutrophic estuaries, the consideration of only the continuous exposure of marine animals to acidification and hypoxia may not be reflective of ecosystem conditions. This study, therefore, sought to consider concurrent, diel changes in pH and DO reflective of the manner in which these variables cycle in shallow, temperate estuaries during summer (Ringwood and Keppler, 2002;Yates et al, 2007;Baumann et al, 2014). The patterns, intensity, and duration of diel acidification and hypoxia in coastal ecosystems can result in an infinite number of experimental combinations and conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In urbanized regions receiving excessive nutrient loads (Melzner et al, 2012;Wallace et al, 2014) or within eutrophied river plumes (Cai et al, 2011) hypoxia and acidification can occur at extreme levels. Beyond the role of excessive nutrient loads in driving this trend, specific estuarine habitats such as salt marshes are naturally enriched in organic carbon that when respired can create hypoxic and acidified conditions, particularly within warmer waters (Ringwood and Keppler, 2002;Baumann et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Diurnal Fluctuations in Acidification and Hypoxia Reduce Growth and Survival of Larval and Juvenile Bay Scallops (Argopecten irradians) and Hard Clams (Mercenaria mercenaria)

et al. 2017

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Diurnal variations in pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations are common seasonal phenomena in many eutrophic estuaries, yet few studies have investigated the concurrent effects of low pH and low DO on marine organisms inhabiting these coastal systems. Here, we assess the effects of diurnal variations in pH and DO on the early-life history of two bivalve species native to Northeast US estuaries, the bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) and hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria). In one set of experiments, larval-and juvenile-life stage bivalves were exposed to ambient conditions (pH T ∼ 7.9), two continuously-low pH levels (pH T ∼ 7.3 and 7.6), and diurnal fluctuations between the ambient and low conditions yielding mean pH levels equal to the intermediate pH levels. In a second set of experiments, larval bivalves were exposed to ambient conditions (pH T ∼ 7.9, DO ∼ 7 mg L −1 ), two levels of low pH and DO (pH T ∼ 7.2, DO ∼1 mg L −1 ; pH ∼ 7.4, DO ∼ 4 mg L −1 T ) and diurnal fluctuations of both pH and DO between the ambient and low pH/DO levels that resulted in mean pH and DO levels equal to the intermediate pH and DO levels. Diurnal acidification treatments with ambient DO levels yielded survival rates for both species at both life stages that were consistent with the survival of individuals exposed to the same mean level of chronic pH with juveniles being more resistant to acidification than larvae. In contrast, when both pH and DO varied diurnally, the survival rates of larval bivalves were significantly lower than the survival of individuals chronically exposed to the same mean levels of pH and DO, an indication that bivalves were physiologically more vulnerable to concurrent fluctuations of both parameters compared to acidification alone. While both species displayed sensitivities to diurnal fluctuations in pH and DO, scallops were relatively more susceptible than hard clams. Since many shallow eutrophic estuaries presently experience diurnal cycles of both pH and DO when early-life stages of bivalves are present in estuaries, the populations of the bivalves studied are likely impacted by these conditions which are likely to intensify with climate change.

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Bivalves

Lewbart

Aczm²

2006

Invertebrate Medicine

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Water quality variation and clam growth: Is pH really a non-issue in estuaries?

Cited by 118 publications

References 16 publications

Impacts of ocean acidification on marine shelled molluscs

Impacts of ocean acidification on marine shelled molluscs

Diurnal Fluctuations in Acidification and Hypoxia Reduce Growth and Survival of Larval and Juvenile Bay Scallops (Argopecten irradians) and Hard Clams (Mercenaria mercenaria)

Bivalves

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