Skip to main content

IMIS

A new integrated search interface will become available in the next phase of marineinfo.org.
For the time being, please use IMIS to search available data

 

[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

Simulated leakage of high pCO2 water negatively impacts bivalve dominated infaunal communities from the Western Baltic Sea
Schade, H.; Mevenkamp, L.; Guilini, K.; Meyer, S.; Gorb, S.N.; Abele, D.; Vanreusel, A.; Melzner, F. (2016). Simulated leakage of high pCO2 water negatively impacts bivalve dominated infaunal communities from the Western Baltic Sea. NPG Scientific Reports 6(31447): 14 pp. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep31447
In: Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group). Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 2045-2322; e-ISSN 2045-2322, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keyword
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Climate-change mitigation Ecosystem ecology Marine biology Metabolism

Authors  Top 
  • Schade, H.
  • Mevenkamp, L., more
  • Guilini, K., more
  • Meyer, S.
  • Gorb, S.N.
  • Abele, D.
  • Vanreusel, A., more
  • Melzner, F.

Abstract
    Carbon capture and storage is promoted as a mitigation method counteracting the increase of atmospheric CO2 levels. However, at this stage, environmental consequences of potential CO2 leakage from sub-seabed storage sites are still largely unknown. In a 3-month-long mesocosm experiment, this study assessed the impact of elevated pCO2 levels (1,500 to 24,400?µatm) on Cerastoderma edule dominated benthic communities from the Baltic Sea. Mortality of C. edule was significantly increased in the highest treatment (24,400?µatm) and exceeded 50%. Furthermore, mortality of small size classes (0–1?cm) was significantly increased in treatment levels =6,600?µatm. First signs of external shell dissolution became visible at =1,500?µatm, holes were observed at >6,600?µatm. C. edule body condition decreased significantly at all treatment levels (1,500–24,400?µatm). Dominant meiofauna taxa remained unaffected in abundance. Densities of calcifying meiofauna taxa (i.e. Gastropoda and Ostracoda) decreased in high CO2 treatments (>6,600?µatm), while the non - calcifying Gastrotricha significantly increased in abundance at 24,400?µatm. In addition, microbial community composition was altered at the highest pCO2 level. We conclude that strong CO2 leakage can alter benthic infauna community composition at multiple trophic levels, likely due to high mortality of the dominant macrofauna species C. edule.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors