The Effects of a CO2-Driven Decrease in pH on Aspects of Larval American Lobster, Homarus Americanus H. Milne-Edwards 1837, Development: A Simplified Model of Near-Future Ocean Acidification Effects

TL;DRAbstract

Although ocean acidification has continued to garner well deserved attention from the scientific community, a startling lack of research has been committed to its effects on juvenile organisms. As many marine organisms are r-strategists, increasing the stressors on developing individuals could have huge effects on population dynamics; one commercially important species that may be affected in the American Lobster, Homarus americanus. This paper looks at the expression of three immune-related genes and the mineral content of the shells of juvenile H. americanus that were raised in carbon dioxide driven reduced pH seawater from hatch through 42000 degree*hours (°C*hrs) in an attempt to assess the chronic effects on individuals. Gene expression showed the cyclical nature of hormones in crustaceans. Analysis of shell composition showed a significant drop in calcium levels after metamorphosis of the larvae to juvenile form in the low pH group, a result that confirms earlier studies on the c

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