BIOACID Programme - Natural Environment Research Council

128
BIOACID: Biological Impacts of Ocean Acidification
2.2.1 First Year Second Year Third Year
Data analysis, statistical evaluation,
data interpretation
Manuscript preparation, presentation of
results at conferences, synthesis
Milestones (2.2.1)
- Implementation of incubation experiments, base-line data on acid-base + gas
month 6
transport status
- Data set on female performance, base-line data on larval performance month 12
- Data sets on activity and expression of ion regulatory proteins month 15
- Data set on transcriptome month 21
- Data set on synergistic effects of CO2 and temperature (first population) month 24
- Data set on population structure month 27
- Data set on larval performance (second population) month 29
- Synthesis, evaluation of combined data sets, sensitivities and uncertainties month 35
Subproject 2.2.2 Cancer pagurus: Chronic and acute responses – Adaptation versus
Tolerance
PI: Christopher Bridges
Work Programme
In the C. pagurus model, three key physiological areas will be examined:
1. Acid-base balance of the whole organism under varying carbon dioxide load (chronic and
acute) together with varying temperature regimes
2. Functionality of both oxygen and carbon dioxide transport at different life stages and the
influence of both temperature and environmental carbon dioxide on this parameter.
3. The influence of acidification, through higher carbon dioxide levels on both the hormonal
control of moulting and at the same time calcium deposition within the carapace.
Initially both juvenile and adult populations will be established together with suture tagging of
individuals for experimental purposes and baseline parameters measured. These will involve
acid-base status of the two populations (adult and juvenile), the gas transport properties of the
haemolymph, their moulting stage, hormonal status and calcium incorporation rates. Acute (short
time scale, 6 hrs) laboratory exposure to graded level(s) taken from the perturbation schemes will
also be investigated if possible, probably using maximum exposure (1960ppm CO2; 7*
preindustrial) only if time is limited. As out-lined above (work programme 2.2.1), long time scale
perturbations experiments will then be commenced using the BIOACID standard levels of 380,
700, 1120 and 1960ppm CO2. These will consist of parallel groups and also some specimens
prepared for serial sampling from the base line groups. Sampling of both the haemolymph and
acute exposure experiments for each perturbation level will be carried out at 6 and 12 month
intervals. Acid-base status and gas transporting properties will then be examined using similar
methodology as shown in subprojects 2.1.3 for bivalve molluscs and 3.1.3 for cephalopods. At
the same time calcium incorporation rates will be studied for each of the groups. During
perturbation incubation, growth and moulting will be regularly monitored by weighing and
collection of exuvia.