Organ damage in Atlantic herring larvae as a result of ocean acidification

The dissolution of anthropogenically emitted excess carbon dioxide lowers the pH of the world's ocean water. The larvae of mass spawning marine fishes may be particularly vulnerable to such ocean acidification (OA), yet the generality of earlier results is unclear. Here we show the detrimental...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecological applications 2014-07, Vol.24 (5), p.1131-1143
Main Authors: Frommel, Andrea Y, Maneja, Rommel, Lowe, David, Pascoe, Christine K, Geffen, Audrey J, Folkvord, Arild, Piatkowski, Uwe, Clemmesen, Catriona
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Carbon Dioxide
Clupea harengus
CO2
DNA
DNA damage
Fish Diseases - etiology
Fish larvae
fisheries
Fishes
Gadus morhua
growth
Herring
histology
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Larva
Larvae
Larval development
Marine
Marine fishes
Ocean acidification
Oceans
Oceans and Seas
RNA
RNA : DNA
Water Pollutants - toxicity
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Summary:The dissolution of anthropogenically emitted excess carbon dioxide lowers the pH of the world's ocean water. The larvae of mass spawning marine fishes may be particularly vulnerable to such ocean acidification (OA), yet the generality of earlier results is unclear. Here we show the detrimental effects of OA on the development of a commercially important fish species, the Atlantic herring ( Clupea harengus ). Larvae were reared at three levels of CO 2 : today (0.0385 kPa), end of next century (0.183 kPa), and a coastal upwelling scenario (0.426 kPa), under near-natural conditions in large outdoor tanks. Exposure to elevated CO 2 levels resulted in stunted growth and development, decreased condition, and severe tissue damage in many organs, with the degree of damage increasing with CO 2 concentration. This complements earlier studies of OA on Atlantic cod larvae that revealed similar organ damage but at increased growth rates and no effect on condition.
ISSN:1051-0761
1939-5582
DOI:10.1890/13-0297.1