The study of increased dissolved CO2 on calcification of organisms suggests that decapods, including crabs and lobsters studied, would not be adversely affected by increases on dissolved CO2 compared to more sensitive corals (for instance) (Ries, 2009, Geological Soc. America 37(12): 1131-1134). Are there other effects of the increased CO2 that may be deleterious to the decapods?
It is probably they are going to be affected, as several papers have reported. The final step in the shell hardening process dependent of Ca concentration and Ca location in the new cuticle. Their innate immunity system dependent on many enzymes that are ion dependent. Many physiological pathways as the last two mentioned could be affected in this group of animals.
Effects on immune function in Norway lobster:
Article Simulated climate change causes immune suppression and prote...
Dear Joseph
1. Investigations on decapods raised in acidified seawater demonstrated a significantly shorter carapace length than those in control seawater after every molt.
2. Larvae raised in acidified seawater take significantly longer time to reach each molt than under control. In the wild, this may result in spending extended time in the water column, i.e., increased vulnerability to pelagic predators and in turn, reduction in benthic recruitment.
3. Indications of reduced survival when reaching the last developmental stage under acidified conditions were also reported.
4. Decapods have limited capabilities to make up for acid–base imbalances (poor iono- and osmoregulators). The issues are even complex in sluggish, relatively inactive species as those have low circulating protein levels and low buffering capacities.
5. Species existing in low-energy environments (e.g deep-sea and polar habitats) are particularly vulnerable, as they are metabolically limited with respect to environmental change.
6. Elevated pCO2 levels in seawater, such as those predicted for the year 2300, are predicted to have varied impacts on calcification rate, egg production and, growth rate and moulting frequency in marine decapods. Reports illustrate that at these levels, embryonic development is negatively impacted.
7. Further, if the changes in pCO2 come with a rising surface seawater temperature, the impacts may get compounded as the molting process in pelagic larvae of decapoda show an inverse relationship to temperature. This may affect the schedule (seasonal) of emergence of decapod larvae in the plankton, consequently influening the biomass and production of the larvae in the plankton.
Overall, marine crustaceans are generally tolerant to the seawater pCO2 levels projected by 2100 and 2300, but only for a short-term period (few weeks) and only in the more adaptable species, as investigated in the laboratories and anticipated by the researchers. Studies are to be undertaken to evaluate their vulnerability over a long-term exposure to the relevant pCO2 levels, in combination with changes in other environmental factors.
Best
Dola
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