Homarus gammarus (Crustacea: Decapoda) larvae under an ocean acidification scenario: responses across different levels of biological organization

This study had the support of Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) through projects Jellyfisheries (PTDC/MAR-BIO/0440/2014 - POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016772), PROTEOME (PTDC/AAGMAA/1302/2014 - POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016773), and the Strategic Project UID/MAR/04292/2013, and the grant awarded to Sara Novais (SFRH/BPD/94500/2013). The authors also wish to acknowledge the support of the Integrated Programme of SR & TD “Smart Valorization of Endogenous Marine Biological Resources Under a Changing Climate” (reference Centro-01-0145-FEDER-000018), co-funded by Centro 2020 program, Portugal 2020, European Union, through the European Regional Development Fund.

The present study evaluated the effects of exposure to different target pCO2 levels: control (C: 370 μatm, pH =8.15) and ocean acidification (OA: 710 μatm, pH=7.85) on development and biochemical responses related with oxidative stress and energy metabolism during the crustacean Homarus gammarus (L.) larval development, integrating different levels of biological organization. After hatching in the laboratory, larvae from the same female brood were exposed to the described conditions from hatching until reaching Stage III (last larval stage - 11 days). H. gammarus larvae demonstrated some susceptibility when addressing the predicted pCO2 levels for 2100. Further analysis at the biochemical and physiological level highlighted the occurrence of oxidative stress in the OA scenario (Superoxide Dismutase reduction and higher DNA damage) that was followed by developmental effects, increased inter-moult period from SII to SIII and reduced growth. The extended exposure to these conditions may affect organisms' key life-cycle functions such as physiological resistance, growth, sexual maturation, or reproduction with implications in their future fitness and population dynamics.

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