Limpets counteract ocean acidification induced shell corrosion by thickening of aragonitic shell layers
Langer, Gerald (Cambridge University. Department of Earth Sciences)
Nehrke, Gernot (Alfred Wegener Institute Foundation for Polar and Marine Research)
Baggini, C. (University of Plymouth)
Rodolfo-Metalpa, R. (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (New Caledonia))
Hall-Spencer, Jason (University of Plymouth)
Bijma, Jelle (Alfred Wegener Institute Foundation for Polar and Marine Research)

Date:	2014
Abstract:	Specimens of the patellogastropod limpet Patella caerulea were collected within (pHlow-shells) and outside (pHn-shells) a CO2 vent site at Ischia, Italy. Four pHlow-shells and four pHn-shells were sectioned transversally and scanned for polymorph distribution by means of confocal Raman microscopy. The pHlow-shells displayed a twofold increase in aragonite area fraction and size-normalised aragonite area. Size-normalised calcite area was halved in pHlow-shells. Taken together with the increased apical and the decreased flank size-normalised thickness of the pHlow-shells, these data led us to conclude that low-pH-exposed P. caerulea specimens counteract shell dissolution by enhanced shell production. This is different from normal elongation growth and proceeds through addition of aragonitic parts only, while the production of calcitic parts is confined to elongation growth. Therefore, aragonite cannot be regarded as a disadvantageous polymorph per se under ocean acidification conditions.
Grants:	European Commission 267931 European Commission 265103
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	SDG 14 - Life Below Water
Published in:	Biogeosciences, Vol. 11, Issue 24 (December 2014) , p. 7363-7368, ISSN 1726-4189

DOI: 10.5194/bg-11-7363-2014

6 p, 2.6 MB

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