Ocean acidification alters predator behaviour and reduces predation rate.

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Ecology
• Climate Change Research

Background:

• Ocean acidification, driven by rising carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, presents significant threats to marine invertebrates.
• The specific impacts of increased CO2 on the behavior of marine invertebrates are not yet fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of projected ocean acidification on the behavior of the predatory cone snail, Conus marmoreus.
• To assess how altered behaviors in a predator-prey relationship affect marine ecosystem dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Exposed Conus marmoreus to control (390 µatm) and elevated (975 µatm) CO2 conditions.
• Measured changes in snail activity levels (mm min-1) and time spent buried.
• Quantified predation rates on humpbacked conch (Gibberulus gibberulus gibbosus) under different CO2 conditions.

Main Results:

• Elevated CO2 levels more than tripled Conus marmoreus activity.
• Snails in high CO2 conditions spent significantly less time buried.
• Predation success decreased from 60% in control conditions to 10% under elevated CO2.

Conclusions:

• Ocean acidification significantly impairs key ecological behaviors of predatory cone snails.
• Altered predator-prey interactions due to ocean acidification can have far-reaching implications for trophic dynamics.
• Predicting marine food web interactions will become more challenging as ocean acidification progresses.