Description and quantification of pteropod shell dissolution: a sensitive bioindicator of ocean acidification

Bednarsek, Nina; Tarling, Geraint A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3753-5899; Bakker, Dorothee CE; Fielding, Sophie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3152-4742; Cohen, Anne; Kuzirian, Alan; McCorkle, Dan; Lézé, Bertrand; Montagna, Roberto. 2012 Description and quantification of pteropod shell dissolution: a sensitive bioindicator of ocean acidification. Global Change Biology, 18 (7). 2378-2388. 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2012.02668.x

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2012.02668.x

Abstract/Summary

Anthropogenic ocean acidification is likely to have negative effects on marine calcifying organisms, such as shelled pteropods, by promoting dissolution of aragonite shells. Study of shell dissolution requires an accurate and sensitive method for assessing shell damage. Shell dissolution was induced through incubations in CO2-enriched seawater for 4 and 14 days. We describe a procedure that allows the level of dissolution to be assessed and classified into three main types: Type I with partial dissolution of the prismatic layer; Type II with exposure of underlying crossed-lamellar layer, and Type III, where crossed-lamellar layer shows signs of dissolution. Levels of dissolution showed a good correspondence to the incubation conditions, with the most severe damage found in specimens held for 14 days in undersaturated condition (Ω ~ 0.8). This methodology enables the response of small pelagic calcifiers to acidified conditions to be detected at an early stage, thus making pteropods a valuable bioindicator of future ocean acidification.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1111/j.1365-2486.2012.02668.x
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Polar Science for Planet Earth (2009 - ) > Ecosystems
ISSN:	13541013
Additional Keywords:	aragonite shell, bioindicator, dissolution quantification, ocean acidification, pteropods, shell dissolution
Date made live:	20 Mar 2013 09:12 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/500554

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1111/j.1365-2486.2012.02668.x

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Polar Science for Planet Earth (2009 - ) > Ecosystems

ISSN:

13541013

Additional Keywords:

aragonite shell, bioindicator, dissolution quantification, ocean acidification, pteropods, shell dissolution

Date made live:

20 Mar 2013 09:12 +0 (UTC)