The effects of elevated temperature and dissolved ÏCO2 on a marine foundation species

Understanding how climate change and other environmental stressors will affect species is a fundamental concern of modern ecology. Indeed , numerous studies have documented how climate stressors affect species distributions and population persistence. However , relatively few studies have investigated how multiple climate stressors might affect species. In this study , we investigate the impacts of how two climate change factors affect an important foundation species. Specifically , we tested how ocean acidification from dissolution of CO2 and increased sea surface temperatures affect multiple characteristics of juvenile eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica). We found strong impacts of each stressor , but no interaction between the two. Simulated warming to mimic heat stressed summers reduced oyster growth , survival , and filtration rates. Additionally , we found that CO2-induced acidification reduced strength of oyster shells , which could potentially facilitate crab predation. As past studies have detected few impacts of these stressors on adult oysters , these results indicate that early life stages of calcareous marine organisms may be more susceptible to effects of ocean acidification and global warming. Overall , these data show that predicted changes in temperature and CO2 can differentially influence direct effects on individual species , which could have important implications for the nature of their trophic interactions