Performance of Acanthina monodon juveniles under long-term exposure to predicted climate change conditions

• Published in: Marine environmental research 2025-02, Vol.204, p.106855, Article 106855
• Main Authors: Paredes-Molina, F.J., Chaparro, O.R., Navarro, J.M., Büchner-Miranda, J.A., Salas-Yanquin, L.P., Cubillos, V.M., Jaramillo, H.N., Pechenik, J.A., Averbuj, A., Bökenhans, V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Foot adhesion; Juvenile shell strength; Ocean acidification; Ocean warming; Shell growth; Survival
• ISSN: 0141-1136; 1879-0291; 1879-0291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106855

The increase of anthropogenic CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere reduces the pH and raises the temperature of the oceans. The combination of both factors impacts the physiological responses and calcium carbonate structures of marine organisms. This study assessed the performance of the juvenile stage of the gastropod Acanthina monodon, after it was continuously exposed to treatments at two pCO2 levels (400 and 1200 μatm) at two temperatures (10 °C and 15 °C) during the periods of embryonic encapsulated development and the early post-hatching juvenile stage. Juvenile performance was evaluated by quantifying shell growth, survival, foot adhesion strength, shell breakage resistance, and oxygen consumption rates. The results indicate that the combination of increased temperature and decreased pH increased juvenile shell growth, while only the decrease in pH had a negative effect on shell strength. However, juveniles were able to attach more strongly to substrates following exposure to the higher temperature level. Furthermore, the interaction of treatments had no effect on the metabolic rate or survival of juveniles, suggesting a possible compensatory effect of the juveniles to the more adverse conditions to which they were exposed. •Combination of increasing temperature and decreasing pH increased juvenile shell growth.•Decrease in pH has a negative effect on shell strength.•Juveniles exposed to the higher temperature attached strongly to substrate.•Under prolonged exposure, juveniles appear to compensate for high temperature/low pH stress.•PCO2/temperature interaction had no effect on metabolic rate or juvenile survival.