EFFECTS OF ELEVATED SEAWATER CO2 CONCENTRATION ON THE MEIOFAUNA

Authors

Haruko Kurihara, Institute for East China Sea Research, Nagasaki University, 1551-7 Tairamachi, Nagasaki, 851-2213, Japan.Follow
Atsushi Ishimatsu, Institute for East China Sea Research, Nagasaki University, 1551-7 Tairamachi, Nagasaki, 851-2213, Japan.
Yoshihisa Shirayama, Seto Marine Biological Laboratory, Kyoto University, 459 Shirahama, Nishimuro, Wakayama, 649-2211, Japan.

Abstract

An increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration leads to a rise in CO2 concentrations and a decrease in pH of the ocean surface water due to continuous gas exchange between air and seawater, which may have serious impacts on neritic marine organisms. In this study, we assessed the impacts of elevated CO2 concentrations on meiobenthic organisms by exposing them to seawater equilibrated with air (control: CO2 concentration 380 ppm) or CO2-enriched air (2,000 ppm higher than control, CO2 concentration predicted by the year 2300) for 56 days in microcosms. We observed no significant differences in the abundance of total meiofauna, nematodes, harpacticoid copepods (including adults and copepodites) and nauplii by the end of the experiment. These results suggest that the projected atmospheric CO2 concentration in the year 2300 does not have acute effects on the meiofauna. However, further studies are needed to evaluate longerterm effects of elevated CO2 on meiobenthic organisms.

Recommended Citation

Kurihara, Haruko; Ishimatsu, Atsushi; and Shirayama, Yoshihisa (2007) "EFFECTS OF ELEVATED SEAWATER CO2 CONCENTRATION ON THE MEIOFAUNA," Journal of Marine Science and Technology: Vol. 15: Iss. 5, Article 2.
DOI: 10.51400/2709-6998.2054
Available at: https://jmstt.ntou.edu.tw/journal/vol15/iss5/2