Variable metabolic responses of Skagerrak invertebrates to low O 2 and high CO 2 scenarios
2017
Abstract. Coastal hypoxia is a problem that is predicted to increase rapidly in the
future. At the same time, we are facing rising atmospheric CO 2
concentrations, which are increasing the p CO 2 and acidity of coastal
waters. These two drivers are well studied in isolation; however, the coupling
of low O 2 and pH is likely to provide a more significant respiratory
challenge for slow moving and sessile invertebrates than is currently
predicted. The Gullmar Fjord in Sweden is home to a range of habitats, such as
sand and mud flats, seagrass beds, exposed and protected shorelines and
rocky bottoms. Moreover, it has a history of both natural and
anthropogenically enhanced hypoxia as well as North Sea upwelling, where
salty water reaches the surface towards the end of summer and early autumn. A
total of 11 species (Crustacean, Chordate, Echinoderm and Mollusc) of these
ecosystems were exposed to four different treatments (high or low oxygen and
low or high CO 2 ; varying p CO 2 of 450 and 1300 µ atm and
O 2 concentrations of 2–3.5 and 9–10 mg L −1 ) and respiration
measured after 3 and 6 days, respectively. This allowed us to evaluate
respiration responses of species of contrasting habitats to single and
multiple stressors. Results show that respiratory responses were highly
species specific as we observed both synergetic as well as antagonistic
responses, and neither phylum nor habitat explained trends in respiratory
responses. Management plans should avoid the generalized assumption that
combined stressors will result in multiplicative effects and focus attention
on alleviating hypoxia in the region.
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