Can seagrass modify the effects of ocean acidification on oysters?

Natasha Garner; Pauline M Ross; Laura J Falkenberg; Justin R Seymour; Nachshon Siboni; Elliot Scanes

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113438

Can seagrass modify the effects of ocean acidification on oysters?

Mar Pollut Bull. 2022 Apr:177:113438. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113438. Epub 2022 Mar 8.

Authors

Natasha Garner¹, Pauline M Ross², Laura J Falkenberg³, Justin R Seymour⁴, Nachshon Siboni⁴, Elliot Scanes⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia; The Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS), Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia.
² School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia; The Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS), Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia. Electronic address: pauline.ross@sydney.edu.au.
³ Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
⁴ Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales 2007, Australia.
⁵ School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia; The Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS), Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia; Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales 2007, Australia.

PMID: 35276613
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113438

Abstract

Solutions are being sought to ameliorate the impacts of anthropogenic climate change. Seagrass may be a solution to provide refugia from climate change for marine organisms. This study aimed to determine if the seagrass Zostera muelleri sub spp. capricorni benefits the Sydney rock oyster Saccostrea glomerata, and if these benefits can modify any anticipated negative impacts of ocean acidification. Future and ambient ocean acidification conditions were simulated in 52 L mesocosms at control (381 μatm) and elevated (848 μatm) CO₂ with and without Z. muelleri. Oyster growth, physiology and microbiomes of oysters and seagrass were measured. Seagrass was beneficial to oyster growth at ambient pCO₂, but did not positively modify the impacts of ocean acidification on oysters at elevated pCO₂. Oyster microbiomes were altered by the presence of seagrass but not by elevated pCO₂. Our results indicate seagrasses may not be a panacea for the impacts of climate change.

Keywords: Climate change; Microbiome; Ocean acidification; Oysters; Seagrass.

MeSH terms

Animals
Aquatic Organisms
Carbon Dioxide / pharmacology
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Ostreidae*
Seawater*

Substances

Carbon Dioxide