European lobster larvae (Homarus gammarus) under an acidification scenario: addressing biochemical, development and behaviour responses
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1
Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Portugal
Ocean acidification is a worldwide concern and its existence is no longer a subjective consideration. Ocean acidification resulting from anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide has already lowered the surface ocean pH and future projections expect it will continue to do so. Although the main body of research has been developed essentially on calcifying invertebrates, such as molluscs and crustaceans, few have considered the study of biochemical biomarkers to assess oxidative stress and energetic metabolism function under such conditions, linking it to higher levels of biological organization. In addition to its ecological importance, the crustacean Homarus gammarus is also a highly valued commercial species facing decreasing stocks amongst European waters. The focus of the present study was to evaluate the effects of exposure to different target pCO2 (control: ~370µatm; increased: ~710µatm ) and pH levels (control: 8,1; acidified: 7,85) on growth parameters, behaviour, oxidative stress, and energy metabolism during H. gammarus’ larval development. These exposure conditions are according with the SRES Scenario A1 predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for the year 2100. Adult females were obtained from a local crustacean retailer that collected them from the Portuguese West Atlantic coast . After hatching in laboratorial controlled conditions, the larvae were collected from one female and were individually reared under treatment conditions in recirculating aquaculture systems. Larvae had total daily feed renewal in the form of enriched artemia nauplii. Also, water chemistry was manipulated, measured and kept under target conditions at all times. The exposure occurred until larvae reached the post-larval stage and individual survival and moulting patterns were evaluated every 12h. Replicates from each treatment were collected in specific moments at Stage I (first larval stage), Stage III (last larval stage) and Post-Larval Stage for morphometric measurements (carapace length and weight gain) and biochemical biomarkers analysis. The measured biomarkers comprised oxidative stress and damage (SOD, LPO and DNA Damage) and energetic metabolism (Carbohydrates, ETS and LDH) related endpoints. The results suggest that survival decreases and inter-moult period is affected during the exposure to the acidified condition. Also, concerning morphometric features, larvae from acidified condition tend to grow less and gain less weight. Biochemical biomarker analyses indicate the occurrence of oxidative stress under the acidified condition, energetic metabolism endpoints varied across larval development but not between experimental conditions. Larval phase is a vulnerable and crucial step in species life cycle, influencing recruitment and stock renovation. This study contributes to a better understanding of this species vulnerability under a climate change scenario, while addressing the mechanisms involved in this crustacean response to this stressor.
Acknowledgements
This study had the support of the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) Strategic Project UID/MAR/04292/2013 granted to MARE. Sara C. Novais wish to acknowledge the financial support given by FCT (SFRH/BPD/94500/2013).
Keywords:
Homarus gammarus,
larval development,
ocean acidification,
Oxidative Stress,
Energetic metabolism
Conference:
IMMR | International Meeting on Marine Research 2016, Peniche, Portugal, 14 Jul - 15 Jul, 2016.
Presentation Type:
Poster presentation
Topic:
Biodiversity, Conservation and Coastal Management
Citation:
Rato
LD,
Novais
SC,
Lemos
MF,
Alves
LM and
Leandro
SM
(2016). European lobster larvae (Homarus gammarus) under an acidification scenario: addressing biochemical, development and behaviour responses.
Front. Mar. Sci.
Conference Abstract:
IMMR | International Meeting on Marine Research 2016.
doi: 10.3389/conf.FMARS.2016.04.00004
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Received:
13 May 2016;
Published Online:
12 Jul 2016.
*
Correspondence:
Mrs. Lénia D Rato, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Peniche, Peniche, 2520–630, Portugal, lenia.rato@gmail.com