Mussel exposure to different PCO2 levels can be maladaptive for the development and growth of their offspring
Streaming Media
Presentation Abstract
In the face of changing ocean conditions, the ability of marine organisms to acclimate non-genetically is increasingly important. Transgenerational plasticity (TGP) refers to non-genetic or epigenetic alterations in response to environmental changes that are carried over to a subsequent generation. Evidence of both negative and positive carry-over effects on larval shellfish from elevated PCO2 exposure on parents has been demonstrated in the literature, however, species, PCO2 levels and exposure timing vary. A series of controlled laboratory experiments were conducted at the Hakai Institute’s Marna Lab on Quadra Island to determine whether parent exposure to varying levels of PCO2 during gametogenesis impact fitness and subsequent larval performance under future climate change scenarios. Adult mussels from a mixed species population were exposed to three PCO2 treatments (ambient, high, and dynamic fluctuating between low and high) for one month during gametogenesis. Mussels were then spawned and larvae were exposed to two PCO2 treatments (ambient, high) and two temperatures. Preliminary results suggest no significant effects on growth and survival of adult mussels but the potential for higher shell dissolution in those exposed to dynamic PCO2. In addition, reproductive output was slightly increased on adults exposed to dynamic and high PCO2 compared to adults exposed to ambient PCO2. Larval size showed a positive relationship with temperature and a negative relationship with PCO2 exposure, whereas parental exposure potentially increased larval size variability on offspring of adults exposed to dynamic PCO2. Genomic techniques looking at adult mussel transcriptomics and both adult and larval DNA methylation will be used alongside growth data to examine if there is evidence for TGP.
Session Title
Poster Session 2: The Salish Sea Food Web and Cycles of Life
Conference Track
SSE14: Posters
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2022 : Online)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE-posters-413
Start Date
26-4-2022 4:30 PM
End Date
26-4-2022 5:00 PM
Type of Presentation
Poster
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Mussels--Effect of water acidification on; Mussels--Adaptation; Mussels--Climatic factors; Ocean acidification
Geographic Coverage
Quadra Island (B.C.)
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Mussel exposure to different PCO2 levels can be maladaptive for the development and growth of their offspring
In the face of changing ocean conditions, the ability of marine organisms to acclimate non-genetically is increasingly important. Transgenerational plasticity (TGP) refers to non-genetic or epigenetic alterations in response to environmental changes that are carried over to a subsequent generation. Evidence of both negative and positive carry-over effects on larval shellfish from elevated PCO2 exposure on parents has been demonstrated in the literature, however, species, PCO2 levels and exposure timing vary. A series of controlled laboratory experiments were conducted at the Hakai Institute’s Marna Lab on Quadra Island to determine whether parent exposure to varying levels of PCO2 during gametogenesis impact fitness and subsequent larval performance under future climate change scenarios. Adult mussels from a mixed species population were exposed to three PCO2 treatments (ambient, high, and dynamic fluctuating between low and high) for one month during gametogenesis. Mussels were then spawned and larvae were exposed to two PCO2 treatments (ambient, high) and two temperatures. Preliminary results suggest no significant effects on growth and survival of adult mussels but the potential for higher shell dissolution in those exposed to dynamic PCO2. In addition, reproductive output was slightly increased on adults exposed to dynamic and high PCO2 compared to adults exposed to ambient PCO2. Larval size showed a positive relationship with temperature and a negative relationship with PCO2 exposure, whereas parental exposure potentially increased larval size variability on offspring of adults exposed to dynamic PCO2. Genomic techniques looking at adult mussel transcriptomics and both adult and larval DNA methylation will be used alongside growth data to examine if there is evidence for TGP.
