title: Simulated leakage of high pCO2 water negatively impacts bivalve dominated infaunal communities from the Western Baltic Sea.
abstract: Carbon capture and storage is promoted as a mitigation method counteracting the increase of atmospheric CO2 levels. However, at this stage, environmental consequences of potential CO2 leakage from sub-seabed storage sites are still largely unknown. In a 3-month-long mesocosm experiment, this study assessed the impact of elevated pCO2 levels (1,500 to 24,400 μatm) on Cerastoderma edule dominated benthic communities from the Baltic Sea. Mortality of C. edule was significantly increased in the highest treatment (24,400 μatm) and exceeded 50%. Furthermore, mortality of small size classes (0-1 cm) was significantly increased in treatment levels ≥6,600 μatm. First signs of external shell dissolution became visible at ≥1,500 μatm, holes were observed at >6,600 μatm. C. edule body condition decreased significantly at all treatment levels (1,500-24,400 μatm). Dominant meiofauna taxa remained unaffected in abundance. Densities of calcifying meiofauna taxa (i.e. Gastropoda and Ostracoda) decreased in high CO2 treatments (>6,600 μatm), while the non - calcifying Gastrotricha significantly increased in abundance at 24,400 μatm. In addition, microbial community composition was altered at the highest pCO2 level. We conclude that strong CO2 leakage can alter benthic infauna community composition at multiple trophic levels, likely due to high mortality of the dominant macrofauna species C. edule.
authors.affiliation: GEOMAR, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel, FB3/EOE-B, Hohenbergstr. 2, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schade
authors.affiliation: Marine Biology Research Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 - S8, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mevenkamp
authors.affiliation: Marine Biology Research Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 - S8, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Guilini
authors.affiliation: HGF-MPG Joint Research Group on Deep Sea Ecology and Technology, Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: CAU, Christian-Albrechts-Universitätzu Kiel, Zoological Institute: Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Am BotanischenGarten 9, 24118 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Stanislav N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Gorb
authors.affiliation: HGF-MPG Joint Research Group on Deep Sea Ecology and Technology, Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany.
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abele
authors.affiliation: Marine Biology Research Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 - S8, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vanreusel
authors.affiliation: GEOMAR, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel, FB3/EOE-B, Hohenbergstr. 2, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Melzner
mesh_terms: D060105:Animal Shells / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000502:physiology*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide