SD4: Improved understanding of population, community and ecosystem impacts of ocean acidification for commercially important species
Lead Research Organisation:
Swansea University
Department Name: School of the Environment and Society
Abstract
Predicting the impacts of ocean acidification (OA) upon fisheries is a rapidly evolving sphere of interest. This project, conducted between the Centre of Sustainable Aquaculture Research (Swansea), Exeter and Strathclyde Universities, and Plymouth Marine Laboratory, will address these challenges using a holistic multi-disciplinary approach. We will examine the physiological and life history responses of commercially important examples of bivalves, crustacea and finfish, using the large (750 m2 floor, 150 m3 water) state-of-the-art Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture Research at Swansea in which these organisms, together with their live food items, can be grown under the same conditions. We will compare the physiology and growth of the selected organisms at different water acidity and temperatures (increased acidity being associated with elevated CO2 and global warming). The output from these experiments will be scaled-up to identify effects at population and community levels. The consequences of these changes for the fishing industry will then be explored. OA, however, will not only affect commercially important species, and so the wider impacts for society of changes in marine ecosystems will also be examined. OA is expected to affect reproduction and early life stages in particular; our research will focus on egg fertilization and growth over the first 2-4 months. These stages can be acid-critical (e.g. sperm swimming is sensitive to acid levels) and are the most susceptible to the external environment due to their high surface-area: volume ratio and poor ability to compensate for changes in internal acidity. Early formation of shell and skeletal structures are also vulnerable to acid changes. OA will also provide direct and indirect effects through changes to food organisms. While it is not possible to change feed species composition, we will grow phytoplankton, zooplankton and other target animals to consider food chain impacts at different acidity levels and temperatures during their most sensitive period. This will enable us to consider the potentially synergistic effects of changes to food quantity and quality, the efficiency of food conversion into growth and energy, and the support of the food chain. Continuing these studies into juvenile stages will provide data for the impact of OA upon the most sensitive stages of cell growth. The results obtained during the studies of early life stages will be complemented by more detailed studies to identify the biological mechanisms that result in an organism's vulnerability to acidity and temperature change. Data from experiments will be used to develop models of organism growth which will provide a sound base for the future development of our understanding of OA upon other species. Supported with data collected from other OA projects, these models will then be developed to link with models that can explore the social and economic consequences to the fishing industry resulting from changes in fish populations. Existing models for such estimates are in their infancy but this project will integrate new developments that relate fisheries production to whole ecosystem ecology to improve upon classic, but simplistic, fisheries models. This is especially important when considering the impacts of global climate change and OA because of the varied interactions between organisms and their environment. Using the findings generated by this study and those arising from other OA projects, the wider impacts of OA on marine ecosystems will be explored. These will be used to examine how the benefits we obtain from the marine environment change (e.g. the availability of clean water for aquaculture and recreational activities, health benefits, and the regulation of gases and climate) and how the value of these benefits change. What these changes mean for industry and society will be explored.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Kevin Flynn (Principal Investigator) | |
| Robin Shields (Co-Investigator) |
Publications
Cripps G
(2016)
Ocean Acidification Affects the Phyto-Zoo Plankton Trophic Transfer Efficiency.
in PloS one
Cripps G
(2014)
Have we been underestimating the effects of ocean acidification in zooplankton?
in Global change biology
Cripps G
(2014)
Parental exposure to elevated pCO2 influences the reproductive success of copepods.
in Journal of plankton research
Duteil M
(2016)
European sea bass show behavioural resilience to near-future ocean acidification.
in Royal Society open science
Ellis RP
(2017)
Lessons from two high CO2 worlds - future oceans and intensive aquaculture.
in Global change biology
Fernandes J
(2016)
Estimating the ecological, economic and social impacts of ocean acidification and warming on UK fisheries
in Fish and Fisheries
Fernandes J.A.
(2013)
Modelling ocean acidification impacts: from biological experiments to economic assessments and social impacts
in ICES Annual Science Conference
Flynn K
(2012)
Changes in pH at the exterior surface of plankton with ocean acidification
in Nature Climate Change
Flynn K
(2021)
Subtle Differences in the Representation of Consumer Dynamics Have Large Effects in Marine Food Web Models
in Frontiers in Marine Science
Flynn KJ
(2016)
The role of coccolithophore calcification in bioengineering their environment.
in Proceedings. Biological sciences
| Title | Electronic Supplementary Material Movie: An example movie of the simulated (model) fish data, and real tracked data are provided. from European sea bass show behavioural resilience to near-future ocean acidification |
| Description | Ocean acidification (OA)-caused by rising concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2)-is thought to be a major threat to marine ecosystems and has been shown to induce behavioural alterations in fish. Here we show behavioural resilience to near-future OA in a commercially important migratory marine finfish, the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Juvenile sea bass were raised from eggs at 19°C in ambient or near-future OA (1000 µatm pCO2) conditions and n = 260 fish were observed 59-68 days post-hatch using automated tracking from video. Fish reared under ambient conditions, OA conditions, and fish reared in ambient conditions but tested in OA water showed statistically similar movement patterns, and reacted to their environment and interacted with each other in comparable ways. Our findings, therefore, indicate consistent behaviour across our treatments and suggest behavioural resilience to near-future OA in juvenile sea bass. Moreover, simulated agent-based models indicate that our analysis methods are sensitive to subtle changes in fish behaviour. It is now important to determine whether the absences of any differences persist in more ecologically relevant circumstances and in contexts which have a more direct bearing on individual fitness. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Electronic_Supplementary_Material_Movie_An_example_movie_of_t... |
| Title | Electronic Supplementary Material Movie: An example movie of the simulated (model) fish data, and real tracked data are provided. from European sea bass show behavioural resilience to near-future ocean acidification |
| Description | Ocean acidification (OA)-caused by rising concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2)-is thought to be a major threat to marine ecosystems and has been shown to induce behavioural alterations in fish. Here we show behavioural resilience to near-future OA in a commercially important migratory marine finfish, the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Juvenile sea bass were raised from eggs at 19°C in ambient or near-future OA (1000 µatm pCO2) conditions and n = 260 fish were observed 59-68 days post-hatch using automated tracking from video. Fish reared under ambient conditions, OA conditions, and fish reared in ambient conditions but tested in OA water showed statistically similar movement patterns, and reacted to their environment and interacted with each other in comparable ways. Our findings, therefore, indicate consistent behaviour across our treatments and suggest behavioural resilience to near-future OA in juvenile sea bass. Moreover, simulated agent-based models indicate that our analysis methods are sensitive to subtle changes in fish behaviour. It is now important to determine whether the absences of any differences persist in more ecologically relevant circumstances and in contexts which have a more direct bearing on individual fitness. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Electronic_Supplementary_Material_Movie_An_example_movie_of_t... |
| Description | The primary observation is that ocean acidification has ramifications that are extremely complex and for which we are only starting to appreciate. Initial studies have been of only a few organisms, at certain stages in their life history and with few other complicating factors (such as changes in food quality and quantity, and temperature affects). Within OA itself, too much emphasis has been placed on using this or that pCO2, ignoring variations in pH and pCO2 with biological activity. We know now that such experiments are inadequate and that alternative approaches are needed. Above all else, an appreciation of OA needs to become mainstream in marine science. Experiments on fish, and other long-lived organisms, are particularly problematic, as studies represent more of an immediate shock to the animals rather than a gradual change in not only their own ecophysiology but of all the other organisms within their ecosystem. |
| Exploitation Route | This project was co-funded by Defra (for commercial fisheries implications), with whom we are in contact with for exchanges of information. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Education Energy Environment Leisure Activities including Sports Recreation and Tourism |
| Description | So far the information has been used primarily for academic peer review publications. Forth coming, however, are materials of more obvious use by policy makers wrt the impact of OA on commercial fisheries. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2012 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Education,Environment |
| Impact Types | Economic Policy & public services |
| Description | MixITiN H2020 MSCA ITN |
| Amount | € 2,860,000 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 766327 |
| Organisation | European Union |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 09/2017 |
| End | 09/2021 |
| Description | Using physiology to improve the health and sustainability of cleaner fish (lumpfish) production for the salmon aquaculture industry |
| Amount | £82,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 2071339 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2018 |
| End | 09/2023 |
| Title | Data from: European sea bass show behavioural resilience to near-future ocean acidification |
| Description | Ocean acidification (OA)-caused by rising concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2)-is thought to be a major threat to marine ecosystems and has been shown to induce behavioural alterations in fish. Here we show behavioural resilience to near-future OA in a commercially important and migratory marine finfish, the Sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Sea bass were raised from eggs at 19°C in ambient or near-future OA (1000 µatm pCO2) conditions and n = 270 fish were observed 59-68 days post-hatch using automated tracking from video. Fish reared under ambient conditions, OA conditions, and fish reared in ambient conditions but tested in OA water showed statistically similar movement patterns, and reacted to their environment and interacted with each other in comparable ways. Thus our findings indicate behavioural resilience to near-future OA in juvenile sea bass. Moreover, simulated agent-based models indicate that our analysis methods are sensitive to subtle changes in fish behaviour. It is now important to determine whether the absences of any differences persist under more ecologically relevant circumstances and in contexts which have a more direct bearing on individual fitness. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.2dc8k |
| Title | Development of a fish and demersal species model to consider life traits experiments under ocean acidification and warming |
| Description | We developed a new model based on SS-DBEM species distribution model which uses projected environmental variables (e.g. temperature, salinity, O2, pCO2, primary production and currents) from the coupled hydrodynamic-biogeochemical models. It uses current and past species distribution, the characteristics of the habitats (e.g. coral reef or distance from coast) and previous environmental conditions, (e.g. species habitat preference profile, Cheung et al., 2008). Given their importance, we considered possible changes in sea grass and seaweed coverage driven by simulated blooms, based on temperature and pH levels and potential effects on species attributed to habitat preferences. Next, the model combines past distribution of the species under study, with ecology and physiology theory based on both experiments and observations to parameterise the processes that drive responses to old and new conditions under scenarios of change (Cheung et al., 2011). These processes include individual growth rates, larval mortality and recruitment, and dispersal of larvae and adults. Instead of fixed values we allowed parameters values to change dynamically with the temperature and/or pH values projected by the biogeochemical model scenarios, according to experimental data or information derived from the literature. Finally, the model considers species interactions according to the size-spectrum theory (Jennings et al., 2008), to ensure the carrying capacity of individual geographical cells is not exceeded. The model outputs consisted of yearly changes of species distribution and biomass with a horizontal spatial resolution of 0.5° x 0.5°. These were then used to investigate the intensity and direction of change in species distribution and biomass, and were averaged by decades to account for natural variability, between "present" (1991-2000) and three "future" periods (2011-2020, 2041-2050 and 2090-2099). Potential catches for each species were estimated using Maximum Sustainable Yield principles, using projected species' biomass and their intrinsic population growth rate (McAllister et al. 2001). This approach has been validated for the North Atlantic fisheries projections (Froese et al., 2012; Fernandes et al., 2013). Data generated from experiments undertaken within the NERC UK Ocean Acidification Research Programme (UKOA; Godbold and Solan, 2013; Queirós et al., 2014) were used to update model parameters. Information was supplemented with recently published literature on OAW (Hendriks, 2010; Melzner et al., 2009; Thomsen et al., 2010; Frommel et al., 2012; Schalkhausser et al., 2013). These further constrained the model parameters for commercially important species in the UK. Only results from exposure experiments running for longer than one month were used to limit the use of short-term experiments that are often quantifying responses to shock (Form and Riebesell, 2012; Williamson et al., 2013). Although longer experiments would be preferred, these are only now starting to emerge (Kroeker et al., 2013; Queirós et al., 2014; Mackenzie et al., 2014a,b). Experimental results were available for only a limited number of parameters for fish species, with more information available in the literature for shellfish (Wenberg et al 2012). The parameters for which experimental information was available include larval mortality (LM) from experiments with seabass (Pope et al., 2014); LM from Frommel et al. (2012) and length/weight relationship (LW) from Melzner et al. (2009) were available for cod; LM from Schalkhausser et al. (2013), LW, growth (G), larvae and adult dispersal for king-scallop; for blue mussel all of these parameters were available as well as additional information about adult mortality (AM) from Hendriks et al. (2010); and finally, for the common cockle we found bivalves generic parameters for LW and G (Hendriks, 2010), and AM from UKOA long-term soft sediment experiment (unpublished data, J.A. Godbold and M. Solan, University of Southampton). We excluded pelagic fish species since only one published paper on Atlantic Herring was found (Franke and Clemmesen, 2011). |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The results are being shown in several international conferences. One publication in a high impact journal is expected. There is contacts to use the developed model in future projects. |
| Title | Have we been underestimating the effects of ocean acidification in zooplankton? |
| Description | Understanding how copepods may respond to ocean acidification (OA) is critical for risk assessments of ocean ecology and biogeochemistry. The perception that copepods are insensitive to OA is largely based on experiments with adult females. Their apparent resilience to increased carbon dioxide (pCO2) concentrations has supported the view that copepods are 'winners' under OA. Here, we show that this conclusion is not robust, that sensitivity across different life stages is significantly misrepresented by studies solely using adult females. Stage-specific responses to pCO2 (385-6000 µatm) were studied across different life stages of a calanoid copepod, monitoring for lethal and sublethal responses. Mortality rates varied significantly across the different life stages, with nauplii showing the highest lethal effects; nauplii mortality rates increased threefold when pCO2 concentrations reached 1000 µatm (year 2100 scenario) with LC50 at 1084 µatm pCO2. In comparison, eggs, early copepodite stages, and adult males and females were not affected lethally until pCO2 concentrations >= 3000 µatm. Adverse effects on reproduction were found, with >35% decline in nauplii recruitment at 1000 µatm pCO2. This suppression of reproductive scope, coupled with the decreased survival of early stage progeny at this pCO2 concentration, has clear potential to damage population growth dynamics in this species. The disparity in responses seen across the different developmental stages emphasizes the need for a holistic life-cycle approach to make species-level projections to climate change. Significant misrepresentation and error propagation can develop from studies which attempt to project outcomes to future OA conditions solely based on single life history stage exposures. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2014 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.836728 |
| Title | Model of Algal Production and growth with temperature, nutrients and light + pH |
| Description | Variable stoichiometric multi nutrient phytoplankton model with pH (OA) linkage |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2012 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | paper in Nature Climate Change successful subsequent grant application |
| Title | Ocean acidification affects the phyto-zoo plankton trophic transfer efficiency |
| Description | The critical role played by copepods in ocean ecology and biogeochemistry warrants an understanding of how these animals may respond to ocean acidification (OA). Whilst an appreciation of the potential direct effects of OA, due to elevated pCO2, on copepods is improving, little is known about the indirect impacts acting via bottom-up(food quality) effects. We assessed, for the first time, the chronic effects of direct and/or indirect exposures to elevated pCO2 on the behaviour, vital rates, chemical and biochemical stoichiometry of the calanoid copepod Acartia tonsa. Bottom-up effects of elevated pCO2 caused species-specific biochemical changes to the phytoplanktonic feed, which adversely affected copepod population structure and decreased recruitment by 30 %. The direct impact of elevated pCO2 caused gender-specific respiratory responses in A.tonsa adults, stimulating an enhanced respiration rate in males (> 2-fold), and a suppressed respiratory response in females when coupled with indirect elevated pCO2 exposures. Under the combined indirect+direct exposure, carbon trophic transfer efficiency from phytoplankton-to-zooplankton declined to < 50 % of control populations, with a commensurate decrease in recruitment. For the first time an explicit role was demonstrated for biochemical stoichiometry in shaping copepod trophic dynamics. The altered biochemical composition of the CO2-exposed prey affected the biochemical stoichiometry of the copepods, which could have ramifications for production of higher tropic levels, notably fisheries. Our work indicates that the control of phytoplankton and the support of higher trophic levels involving copepods have clear potential to be adversely affected under future OA scenarios. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.858970 |
| Title | Phytoplankton OA |
| Description | Plankton-functional type model bidirectionally linked to ocean acidification, so pH rises during net C-fixation and declines otherwise, and with calcification |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | too early to say beyond the current deployment for papers (Flynn et al. 2016, 2014, 2012) |
| Title | Seawater carbonate chemistry of experiment on behavioural resilience of European sea bass to ocean acidification |
| Description | Ocean acidification (OA)-caused by rising concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2)-is thought to be a major threat to marine ecosystems and has been shown to induce behavioural alterations in fish. Here we show behavioural resilience to near-future OA in a commercially important and migratory marine finfish, the Sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Sea bass were raised from eggs at 19°C in ambient or near-future OA (1000 µatm pCO2) conditions and n = 270 fish were observed 59-68 days post-hatch using automated tracking from video. Fish reared under ambient conditions, OA conditions, and fish reared in ambient conditions but tested in OA water showed statistically similar movement patterns, and reacted to their environment and interacted with each other in comparable ways. Thus our findings indicate behavioural resilience to near-future OA in juvenile sea bass. Moreover, simulated agent-based models indicate that our analysis methods are sensitive to subtle changes in fish behaviour. It is now important to determine whether the absences of any differences persist under more ecologically relevant circumstances and in contexts which have a more direct bearing on individual fitness. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.952481 |
| Description | BBC Wales |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | BBC Wales news item - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-27944888 enhanced interest by BBC and others in marine research in general |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-27944888 |
| Description | Dissemiation of information on the impacts of ocean acidification on shellfish - CEFAS Shellfish News |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Article on the possible impacts on ocean acidification on shellfish was written and published in a trade journal. Hopkins, F., Ellis, P., Pope, E., Papathanasopoulou, E. (2013). Ocean acidification and shellfish: effects on UK aquaculture? Article for Cefas "Shellfish News" May Edition. No further notable impacts. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | Dissemination of information on ocean acidification and impacts on shellfish - GROWER magazine |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The activity resulted in a publication of an article in a trade journal: Hopkins, F. and Papathanasopoulou, E. (2012). Ocean acidification and shellfish. Article for the Association of Scottish Shellfish "Grower" magazine, October 2012. Hopkins, F. was invited to attend and speak at the Shellfish Association of Great Britain Annual Conference. This was followed by a request for an article in CEFAS Shellfish News. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | End-to-end assessment of ocean warming and acidification on fisheries and other ecosystem services: from experiments and models to economic and social impacts and perceptions |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | There was a discussion about how to bring research about OA into the public and policy makers. Further knowledge and advice for a workshop was requested. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.bioacid.de/?idart=863&idlang=22 |
| Description | Finale event for the UK Ocean Acidification research programme (UKOA) held jointly with the German programme Biological Impacts of Ocean Acidification (BIOACID) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A Finale Event for the UK Ocean Acidification research programme was held at the Royal Society, London on 4-5 July 2015 called "Ocean acidification: what's it all about?", and covering both UKOA and the German BIOACID programme. The meeting was public, and primarily for stakeholders and research users (policy, business, media, NGOs and scientists from other disciplines) who have not been directly involved in OA research to date; the emphasis was therefore be on non-technical overviews and cross-cutting topics, to highlight major UKOA outcomes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.oceanacidification.org.uk/Latest_News/Royal_Society |
| Description | Modelling ocean acidification impact: from biological experiments (through models) to economic assessment and social impact |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Internal project presentation. Discussions held informed future development of work Increased discussion among research team members and with other OA projects |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | NERC public engagement Cardiff Museum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Museum hands-on exhibition at Cardiff Museum on ocean acidification to stimulate public interest and questions |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Pollution and the Marine Environment Scientific and Public Engagement Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | Considerable discussion was held after the presentation focusing on adaptation and mitigation of ocean acidification as well as the communication of science to the public. Invitation to speak to local marine volunteer group |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | The Conversation - Microscopic marine plants bioengineer their environment to enhance their own growth |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Article in The Conversation - http://theconversation.com/microscopic-marine-plants-bioengineer-their-environment-to-enhance-their-own-growth-63355 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://theconversation.com/microscopic-marine-plants-bioengineer-their-environment-to-enhance-their-... |