Impacts of marine acidification on calcification, respiration and energy metabolism of Zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri

Abstract:

The ocean is becoming more and more acidic in unprecedented speed in the history of the earth resulting from emissions of CO2 by human activities. The survival state of calcification organisms such as shellfish may be threatened by marine acidification. So the calcification rate and respiratory rate of Chlamys farreri were investigated using the alkalinity anomaly technique at different pH. It was found that calcification rate and respiration rate decreased significantly as pH declined. Calcification rate decreased by 33% when the pH of water was down to 7.9. At pH 7.3, calcification rate was almost 0, and respiratory rate (RC) and O2 consumption rate (RO) were reduced by 14% and 11% respectively. As marine acidification intensifies, the metabolic pathways of C. farreri also changed. All changes above may threaten the survival of C. farreri in the future.