title: Interactive effects of seawater acidification and elevated temperature on biomineralization and amino acid metabolism in the mussel Mytilus edulis.
abstract: Seawater acidification and warming resulting from anthropogenic production of carbon dioxide are increasing threats to marine ecosystems. Previous studies have documented the effects of either seawater acidification or warming on marine calcifiers; however, the combined effects of these stressors are poorly understood. In our study, we examined the interactive effects of elevated carbon dioxide partial pressure (P(CO2)) and temperature on biomineralization and amino acid content in an ecologically and economically important mussel, Mytilus edulis. Adult M. edulis were reared at different combinations of P(CO2) (pH 8.1 and 7.8) and temperature (19, 22 and 25°C) for 2 months. The results indicated that elevated P(CO2) significantly decreased the net calcification rate, the calcium content and the Ca/Mg ratio of the shells, induced the differential expression of biomineralization-related genes, modified shell ultrastructure and altered amino acid content, implying significant effects of seawater acidification on biomineralization and amino acid metabolism. Notably, elevated temperature enhanced the effects of seawater acidification on these parameters. The shell breaking force significantly decreased under elevated P(CO2), but the effect was not exacerbated by elevated temperature. The results suggest that the interactive effects of seawater acidification and elevated temperature on mussels are likely to have ecological and functional implications. This study is therefore helpful for better understanding the underlying effects of changing marine environments on mussels and other marine calcifiers.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Biotechnology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Deep Sea Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Shiguo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Biotechnology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Deep Sea Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Chuang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Biotechnology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Deep Sea Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Jingliang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Biotechnology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Deep Sea Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Yangjia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Biotechnology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Deep Sea Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Guilan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Biotechnology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Deep Sea Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China lpxie@tsinghua.edu.cn rqzhang@tsinghua.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Biotechnology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Deep Sea Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China lpxie@tsinghua.edu.cn rqzhang@tsinghua.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Rongqing
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D060105:Animal Shells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008274:Magnesium / Q000737:chemistry; D049880:Mytilus edulis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D010313:Partial Pressure; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Breaking force; Carbon dioxide; Global climate change; Marine calcifiers; Seawater warming; Shell ultrastructure