Stable isotopic records of shell carbonate and the effects of ocean acidification along the Washington coast
Presentation Abstract
In recent years stable isotope ratios of marine bivalve shells have received growing attention in fisheries research and management, especially for carbon isotopes (d13C) in detection of the effects of ocean acidification. Bivalve shells are composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and exist in polymorphism as calcite and aragonite. When the anthropogenic CO2 sinks into ocean, it will produce HCO3- and CO32- and this affects the carbonate saturation state (Ω). In this study we report stable carbon and oxygen isotope analyses in shells of Pacific razor clam (Siliqua patula), Pacific geoduck (Panopea abrupta), and Pacific sea scallop (Patinopectin caurinus) along the Washington and British Columbia coast. Among 800 more powder samples analyzed the d13C values of these shells ranged from -2.88 to -0.30‰, whereas d18O values of the same samples ranged from -2.16 to +1.39‰. As compared with the carbon isotope signatures reported in the literature, data from this study did not show a steady decrease in d13C patterns. In contrast, the d18O values of the shells clearly showed life history that was consistent with the annual growth lines on the outside of the shell. Overall our isotopic data suggest that the carbonate shell is a good proxy for investigating the climate change and marine environments that the animal experienced (mainly from d18O), but the effects of ocean acidification along the Washington coast (mainly from d13C) are open to question.
Session Title
Ocean Acidification: Effects and Interactions with Organisms
Conference Track
SSE5: Climate Change: Impacts, Adaptation, and Research
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2018 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE5-109
Start Date
5-4-2018 4:30 PM
End Date
5-4-2018 4:45 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Bivalves--Effect of water acidification on--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Carbon--Isotopes--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Oxygen--Isotopes--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Calcium carbonate--Measurement; Shells--Growth
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Puget Sound (Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Stable isotopic records of shell carbonate and the effects of ocean acidification along the Washington coast
In recent years stable isotope ratios of marine bivalve shells have received growing attention in fisheries research and management, especially for carbon isotopes (d13C) in detection of the effects of ocean acidification. Bivalve shells are composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and exist in polymorphism as calcite and aragonite. When the anthropogenic CO2 sinks into ocean, it will produce HCO3- and CO32- and this affects the carbonate saturation state (Ω). In this study we report stable carbon and oxygen isotope analyses in shells of Pacific razor clam (Siliqua patula), Pacific geoduck (Panopea abrupta), and Pacific sea scallop (Patinopectin caurinus) along the Washington and British Columbia coast. Among 800 more powder samples analyzed the d13C values of these shells ranged from -2.88 to -0.30‰, whereas d18O values of the same samples ranged from -2.16 to +1.39‰. As compared with the carbon isotope signatures reported in the literature, data from this study did not show a steady decrease in d13C patterns. In contrast, the d18O values of the shells clearly showed life history that was consistent with the annual growth lines on the outside of the shell. Overall our isotopic data suggest that the carbonate shell is a good proxy for investigating the climate change and marine environments that the animal experienced (mainly from d18O), but the effects of ocean acidification along the Washington coast (mainly from d13C) are open to question.
