Journal Article

Ocean acidification impacts mussel control on biomineralisation

Fitzer, Susan C., Phoenix, Vernon R., Kamenos, Nicholas A., Cusack, Maggie

2014

Overview

Ocean acidification is altering the oceanic carbonate saturation state and threatening the survival of marine calcifying organisms. Production of their calcium carbonate exoskeletons is dependent not only on the environmental seawater carbonate chemistry but also the ability to produce biominerals through proteins. We present shell growth and structural responses by the economically important marine calcifier Mytilus edulis to ocean acidification scenarios (380, 550, 750, 1000 µatm p CO 2 ). After six months of incubation at 750 µatm p CO 2 , reduced carbonic anhydrase protein activity and shell growth occurs in M. edulis . Beyond that, at 1000 µatm p CO 2 , biomineralisation continued but with compensated metabolism of proteins and increased calcite growth. Mussel growth occurs at a cost to the structural integrity of the shell due to structural disorientation of calcite crystals. This loss of structural integrity could impact mussel shell strength and reduce protection from predators and changing environments.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: 101/28 / 147/135 / 704/106/829/826 / 704/172/169/209 / Acidification / Adaptation, Physiological / Animal Shells - growth & development / Animal Shells - metabolism / Animals / Calcification, Physiologic / Calcite / Calcium carbonate / Calcium Carbonate - metabolism / Carbon Dioxide - metabolism / Carbonic anhydrases / Carbonic Anhydrases - metabolism / Climate Change / Crystals / Economic importance / Environmental changes / Humanities and Social Sciences / Hydrogen-Ion Concentration / Mollusks / multidisciplinary / Mytilus edulis - growth & development / Mytilus edulis - metabolism / Ocean acidification / Predators / Science / Seawater / Seawater - chemistry / Shells