title: Effects of CO2-driven sediment acidification on infaunal marine bivalves: A synthesis.
abstract: While ocean acidification (OA) effects on marine organisms are well documented, impacts of sediment acidification on infaunal organisms are relatively understudied. Here we synthesize CO2-driven sediment acidification effects on infaunal marine bivalves. While sediment carbonate system conditions can already exceed near-future OA projections, sediments can become even more acidic as overlying seawater pH decreases. Evidence suggests that infaunal bivalves experience shell dissolution, more lesions, and increased mortality in more acidic sediments; effects on heavy metal accumulation appear complex and uncertain. Infaunal bivalves can avoid negative functional consequences of sediment acidification by reducing burrowing and increasing dispersal in more acidic sediments, irrespective of species or life stage; elevated temperature may compromise this avoidance behaviour. The combined effects of sediment acidification and other environmental stressors are virtually unknown. While it is evident that sediment acidification can impact infaunal marine bivalves, more research is needed to confidently predict effects under future ocean conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island C1A 4P3, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Brunswick, 100 Tucker Park Road, PO Box 5050, Saint John, New Brunswick E2L4L5, Canada. Electronic address: jefferycclements@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jeff C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Clements
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Brunswick, 100 Tucker Park Road, PO Box 5050, Saint John, New Brunswick E2L4L5, Canada.
authors.forename: Heather L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Hunt
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids; D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000187:drug effects*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000494:pharmacology; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000143:Acids; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D002245:Carbon Dioxide
keywords: Carbon dioxide; Climate change; Ocean acidification; Sediment fauna; Sediment geochemistry