RT journal article
T1 Ecological interactions modulate responses of two intertidal mussel species to changes in temperature and pH
A1 Gestoso García, Ignacio José
A1 Arenas, Francisco
A1 Olabarria, Celia
A2 Biología
AB Predicted climate change scenarios for the end of this century suggest a substantial warming and ocean acidificationof sea surface waters. Physiological performance of marine coastal organisms will be affected leading tochanges in whole communities. In particular, ocean acidification poses an important threat for shelled molluscs.Nevertheless, climate change impacts are species-specific and responses may even differ among species that playa similar role in the ecosystems. Currently, two mussel species, the native Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck 1819and the non-indigenous Xenostrobus securis Lamarck 1819, share the same habitat along shores in the inner partof the Galician Rias Baixas (NWSpain) forming mixed patchy clumps. Here, weused an experimental approach inmesocosmsto evaluate the effects of increasing temperature and acidification onmussel clumps of different composition(monospecific and mixed clumps). Our model systems were artificially constructed clumps resemblingthose found on rocky shores. Responses to environmental stressors were measured on several functioning variablesat the individual (i.e. survivorship, growth, condition index and composition of shell) and clump level (i.e.respiration, ammonia and phosphate excretion rates). The decrease of pH had a lethal effect and reduced growthon the native mussels. The invader was more resilient although individual responses were very often shaped bythe composition of the clump. The reduced pH and, especially the high temperature conditions, tended to causean increase in respiration rates of all types of clumps. Interactions between the two species seemed to modulatemany effects at both individual and clump levels highlighting the complexity of responses when consideringmultiple stressors.
PB Elsevier
SN 0022-0981
YR 2016
FD 2016
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/34939
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/34939
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 15-nov-2026