Limpets counteract ocean acidification induced shell corrosion by thickening of aragonitic shell layers
Specimens of the patellogastropod limpet <i>Patella caerulea</i> were collected within (pH<sub>low</sub>-shells) and outside (pH<sub>n</sub>-shells) a CO<sub>2</sub> vent site at Ischia, Italy. Four pH<sub>low</sub>-shells and four pH<su...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2014-12-01
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| Series: | Biogeosciences |
| Online Access: | http://www.biogeosciences.net/11/7363/2014/bg-11-7363-2014.pdf |
| Summary: | Specimens of the patellogastropod limpet <i>Patella caerulea</i> were
collected within (pH<sub>low</sub>-shells) and outside
(pH<sub>n</sub>-shells) a CO<sub>2</sub> vent site at Ischia, Italy. Four
pH<sub>low</sub>-shells and four pH<sub>n</sub>-shells were sectioned
transversally and scanned for polymorph distribution by means of confocal
Raman microscopy. The pH<sub>low</sub>-shells displayed a twofold increase
in aragonite area fraction and size-normalised aragonite area.
Size-normalised calcite area was halved in pH<sub>low</sub>-shells. Taken
together with the increased apical and the decreased flank size-normalised
thickness of the pH<sub>low</sub>-shells, these data led us to conclude that
low-pH-exposed <i>P. caerulea</i> specimens counteract shell dissolution by
enhanced shell production. This is different from normal elongation growth
and proceeds through addition of aragonitic parts only, while the production
of calcitic parts is confined to elongation growth. Therefore, aragonite cannot be regarded as a disadvantageous polymorph
per se under ocean acidification conditions. |
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| ISSN: | 1726-4170 1726-4189 |