Ocean acidification and rising temperatures may increase biofilm primary productivity but decrease grazer...

Area of Science:

• Marine Ecology
• Climate Change Biology
• Ecosystem Dynamics

Background:

• Climate change, driven by increasing atmospheric CO2 and temperatures, can restructure ecosystems.
• Intertidal zones are particularly vulnerable to these changes, affecting primary producers and consumers.
• Organismal responses to environmental stressors can vary based on exposure duration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the combined effects of elevated CO2 and temperature on UK intertidal biofilms and their consumers, Littorina littorea.
• To assess how pre-exposure duration (two weeks vs. five months) influences the response of L. littorea to climate change conditions.
• To evaluate the predictability of ecosystem responses using short-term laboratory experiments versus long-term acclimation.

Main Methods:

• Controlled microcosm experiment simulating elevated CO2 and temperature.
• Investigation of biofilms (primary producers) and Littorina littorea (consumers).
• Comparative analysis of L. littorea grazing rates and biofilm abundance after short-term (five weeks) and long-term (five months) pre-exposure.

Main Results:

• Elevated CO2 and temperature decreased grazer consumption of primary productivity over five weeks, increasing biofilm abundance.
• Long-term pre-exposure (five months) resulted in higher grazing rates in L. littorea compared to short-term exposure.
• Short-term experiments may overestimate negative impacts of climate change due to lack of organismal acclimation.

Conclusions:

• Ecosystem responses to climate change may not be accurately predicted by short-term laboratory studies alone.
• Prolonged exposure allows organisms to acclimate, altering their physiological and consumptive responses.
• Predicting future ecosystem structures requires integrating laboratory data with long-term, large-scale ecosystem experiments.