title: Ocean acidification impairs vermetid reef recruitment.
abstract: Vermetids form reefs in sub-tropical and warm-temperate waters that protect coasts from erosion, regulate sediment transport and accumulation, serve as carbon sinks and provide habitat for other species. The gastropods that form these reefs brood encapsulated larvae; they are threatened by rapid environmental changes since their ability to disperse is very limited. We used transplant experiments along a natural CO2 gradient to assess ocean acidification effects on the reef-building gastropod Dendropoma petraeum. We found that although D. petraeum were able to reproduce and brood at elevated levels of CO2, recruitment success was adversely affected. Long-term exposure to acidified conditions predicted for the year 2100 and beyond caused shell dissolution and a significant increase in shell Mg content. Unless CO2 emissions are reduced and conservation measures taken, our results suggest these reefs are in danger of extinction within this century, with significant ecological and socioeconomic ramifications for coastal systems.
authors.affiliation: DiSTeM, CoNISMa, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milazzo
authors.affiliation: 1] Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, Plymouth University, UK [2] IRD, Unite 227 CoReus2, Noumea, New Caledonia.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodolfo-Metalpa
authors.affiliation: The Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
authors.forename: Vera Bin San
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: 1] Mina-Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel [2] The interuniversity Institute for Marine Science, Eilat Israel.
authors.forename: Maoz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fine
authors.affiliation: DiSTeM, CoNISMa, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alessi
authors.affiliation: The Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
authors.forename: Vengatesen
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thiyagarajan
authors.affiliation: Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, Plymouth University, UK.
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hall-Spencer
authors.affiliation: DiSTeM, CoNISMa, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chemello
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D057894:Coral Reefs; D049851:Gastropoda / Q000502:physiology*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014872:Water Movements
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D002245:Carbon Dioxide