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Ocean acidification exerts negative effects during warming conditions in a developing Antarctic fish
Erin E Flynn1, Brittany E Bjelde2, Nathan A Miller1
1Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA; Department of Animal Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Conservation Physiology
|June 14, 2016
Summary
Antarctic dragonfish embryos show reduced survival and slower development when exposed to combined ocean warming and acidification. Increased temperature alone boosted metabolism but also mortality, suggesting warming is the primary threat.
Area of Science:
- Marine biology
- Climate change impacts
- Ectotherm physiology
Background:
- Anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are driving ocean warming and acidification.
- Marine ectotherms, especially during early development, face challenges adapting to these simultaneous environmental changes.
- Antarctic fishes with slow development are particularly vulnerable to climate change.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interactive effects of ocean warming and acidification on the embryonic physiology of Antarctic dragonfish (Gymnodraco acuticeps).
- To understand how life-history strategies and ecosystems influence susceptibility to concurrent ocean changes.
- To assess impacts on survival, development, and metabolic processes under near-future climate scenarios.
Main Methods:
- Experimental approach using controlled temperature and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) levels.
- Simulated near-future warming (-1°C ambient, +3°C) and ocean acidification (420, 650, 1000 μatm pCO2).
- Monitored embryonic survival, developmental stage, metabolic rate (O2 consumption), and enzyme activity (citrate synthase) over 3 weeks.
Main Results:
- Elevated pCO2 alone did not increase mortality and even advanced development.
- Combined warming and acidification led to synergistic, dose-dependent decreases in survival and slower development.
- Increased temperature alone accelerated metabolism and development but raised mortality and decreased osmolality.
- Significant interactions between temperature, pCO2, and time were observed in enzyme activity.
Conclusions:
- Developing Antarctic dragonfish are more sensitive to ocean warming than acidification.
- Negative physiological effects of ocean acidification are exacerbated by increased temperature.
- Combined stressors may lead to reduced hatching success and altered phenology, with potential negative ecological consequences in the Antarctic ecosystem.
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