Suggett, David J and Hall‐Spencer, Jason M and Rodolfo‐Metalpa, Riccardo and Boatman, Toby G and Payton, Ross and Tye Pettay, D and Johnson, Vivienne R and Warner, Mark E and Lawson, Tracy (2012) Sea anemones may thrive in a high CO <sub>2</sub> world. Global Change Biology, 18 (10). pp. 3015-3025. DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2012.02767.x
Suggett, David J and Hall‐Spencer, Jason M and Rodolfo‐Metalpa, Riccardo and Boatman, Toby G and Payton, Ross and Tye Pettay, D and Johnson, Vivienne R and Warner, Mark E and Lawson, Tracy (2012) Sea anemones may thrive in a high CO <sub>2</sub> world. Global Change Biology, 18 (10). pp. 3015-3025. DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2012.02767.x
Suggett, David J and Hall‐Spencer, Jason M and Rodolfo‐Metalpa, Riccardo and Boatman, Toby G and Payton, Ross and Tye Pettay, D and Johnson, Vivienne R and Warner, Mark E and Lawson, Tracy (2012) Sea anemones may thrive in a high CO <sub>2</sub> world. Global Change Biology, 18 (10). pp. 3015-3025. DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2012.02767.x
Abstract
Increased seawater pCO 2, and in turn 'ocean acidification' (OA), is predicted to profoundly impact marine ecosystem diversity and function this century. Much research has already focussed on calcifying reef-forming corals (Class: Anthozoa) that appear particularly susceptible to OA via reduced net calcification. However, here we show that OA-like conditions can simultaneously enhance the ecological success of non-calcifying anthozoans, which not only play key ecological and biogeochemical roles in present day benthic ecosystems but also represent a model organism should calcifying anthozoans exist as less calcified (soft-bodied) forms in future oceans. Increased growth (abundance and size) of the sea anemone (Anemonia viridis) population was observed along a natural CO 2 gradient at Vulcano, Italy. Both gross photosynthesis (P G) and respiration (R) increased with pCO 2 indicating that the increased growth was, at least in part, fuelled by bottom up (CO 2 stimulation) of metabolism. The increase of P G outweighed that of R and the genetic identity of the symbiotic microalgae (Symbiodinium spp.) remained unchanged (type A19) suggesting proximity to the vent site relieved CO 2 limitation of the anemones' symbiotic microalgal population. Our observations of enhanced productivity with pCO 2, which are consistent with previous reports for some calcifying corals, convey an increase in fitness that may enable non-calcifying anthozoans to thrive in future environments, i.e. higher seawater pCO 2. Understanding how CO 2-enhanced productivity of non- (and less-) calcifying anthozoans applies more widely to tropical ecosystems is a priority where such organisms can dominate benthic ecosystems, in particular following localized anthropogenic stress. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Item Type: | Article |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | Cnidarian; CO2 vent; Ocean acidification; Productivity; Sea anemone; Symbiodinium spp |
Subjects: | Q Science > QL Zoology Q Science > QP Physiology |
Divisions: | Faculty of Science and Health Faculty of Science and Health > Life Sciences, School of |
SWORD Depositor: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Date Deposited: | 23 Jan 2013 13:44 |
Last Modified: | 18 Aug 2022 11:04 |
URI: | http://repository.essex.ac.uk/id/eprint/5203 |