Wound healing in an elasmobranch fish is not impaired by high-CO₂ exposure

The purpose of this study was to test the effects of high CO₂ exposure on wound healing rates in an elasmobranch fish (Urobatis jamaicensis). Small dermal injuries (8 mm biopsy) closed by 22 days post wounding with a decrease in haematocrit. High CO₂ exposure (ΔpH = 1.4) did not influence healing rate or haematocrit. Combined, these data provide evidence that minimally invasive scientific procedures have short-term impacts on elasmobranch fishes even during exposure to a chronic stressor. Therefore, wound healing rates may not be strongly impacted by ocean acidification (ΔpH = 0.4).