title: Parental exposure to elevated pCO2influences the reproductive success of copepods.
abstract: Substantial variations are reported for egg production and hatching rates of copepods exposed to elevated carbon dioxide concentrations (pCO2). One possible explanation, as found in other marine taxa, is that prior parental exposure to elevated pCO2(and/or decreased pH) affects reproductive performance. Previous studies have adopted two distinct approaches, either (1) expose male and female copepoda to the test pCO2/pH scenarios, or (2) solely expose egg-laying females to the tests. Although the former approach is more realistic, the majority of studies have used the latter approach. Here, we investigated the variation in egg production and hatching success ofAcartia tonsabetween these two experimental designs, across five different pCO2concentrations (385-6000 µatm pCO2). In addition, to determine the effect of pCO2on the hatching success with no prior parental exposure, eggs produced and fertilized under ambient conditions were also exposed to these pCO2scenarios. Significant variations were found between experimental designs, with approach (1) resulting in higher impacts; here >20% difference was seen in hatching success between experiments at 1000 µatm pCO2scenarios (2100 year scenario), and >85% at 6000 µatm pCO2. This study highlights the potential to misrepresent the reproductive response of a species to elevated pCO2dependent on parental exposure.
authors.affiliation: CSAR , Swansea University , Swansea SA2 8PP , UK ; Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, West Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH , UK.
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cripps
authors.affiliation: Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, West Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH , UK.
authors.forename: Penelope
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lindeque
authors.affiliation: CSAR , Swansea University , Swansea SA2 8PP , UK.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Flynn
keywords: copepods; egg hatching rates; elevated pCO2; ocean acidification; parental exposure; spermatogenesis