Effects of ocean acidification on the metabolic rates of three species of bivalve from southern coast of China

• Published in: Chinese journal of oceanology and limnology 2012-03, Vol.30 (2), p.206-211
• Main Author: 刘文广 何毛贤
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acidification; Adaptability; Ammonia; Anthropogenic factors; Biology; Bivalvia; Carbon dioxide; Chlamys; Chlamys nobilis; Clearances; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; economics; Excretion; Food consumption; Food intake; Food processing; Marine; Marine molluscs; Metabolic rate; Mollusks; Ocean acidification; Oceanography; Oceans; Oxygen consumption; oysters; Pearl oysters; Perna canaliculus; Perna viridis; pH effects; Phosphorus; Pinctada fucata; rearing; Respiration; scallops; Seawater; Shellfish; Species; Uptake; 中国南部; 代谢率; 低pH值; 双壳类; 合浦珠母贝; 沿海; 海洋; 酸化
• ISSN: 0254-4059; 2096-5508; 1993-5005; 2523-3521
• DOI: 10.1007/s00343-012-1067-1

Oceanic uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide results in a decrease in seawater pH, a process known as ＂ocean acidification＂. The pearl oyster Pinctada fucata, the noble scallop Chlamys nobilis, and the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis are species of economic and ecological importance along the southern coast of China. We evaluated the effects of seawater acidification on clearance, respiration, and excretion rates in these three species. The animals were reared in seawater at pH 8.1 （control）, 7.7, or 7.4. The clearance rate was highest at pH 7.7 forP.fucata and at pH 8.1 for C. nobilis and P. viridis. The pH had little effect on the respiration rate of P.fucata and P. viridis. In contrast, the respiration rate was significantly lower at pH 7.4 in C. nobilis. The excretion rate was significantly lower at pH 7.4 than pH 8.1 for all species. The results indicate that the reduction in seawater pH likely affected the metabolic process （food intake, oxygen consumption, and ammonia excretion） of these bivalves. Different species respond differently to seawater acidification. Further studies are needed to demonstrate the exact mechanisms for this effect and evaluate adaptability of these bivalves to future acidified oceans.