Near-future ocean warming and acidification alter foraging behaviour, locomotion, and metabolic rate in a keystone marine mollusc

Type Article
Date 2020-03
Language English
Author(s) Horwitz Rael1, Norin Tommy2, Watson Sue-Ann3, Pistevos Jennifer C. A.1, Beldade Ricardo1, 4, Hacquart Simon1, Gattuso Jean-Pierre5, 6, Rodolfo-Metalpa Riccardo7, Vidal-Dupiol JeremieORCID8, 9, Killen Shaun S.2, Mills Suzanne C.1
Affiliation(s) 1 : PSL Université Paris: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, BP 1013, 98729, Papetoai, Moorea, French Polynesia
2 : University of Glasgow, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, United Kingdom
3 : Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
4 : Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Santiago, Chile
5 : Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche, 181 chemin du Lazaret, F-06230, Villefranche-sur-mer, France
6 : Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations, Sciences Po, 27 rue Saint Guillaume, F-75007, Paris, France
7 : ENTROPIE IRD - Université de La Réunion - CNRS, Nouméa, 98848, Nouvelle-Calédonie, France
8 : IFREMER, UMR 241 EIO, BP 7004, 98719, Taravao, Tahiti, French Polynesia
9 : IHPE, Université Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, Université Perpignan Via Domitia, F-34095, Montpellier, France
Source Scientific Reports (2045-2322) (Springer Science and Business Media LLC), 2020-03 , Vol. 10 , N. 1 , P. 5461 (11p.)
DOI 10.1038/s41598-020-62304-4
WOS© Times Cited 15
Abstract

Environmentally-induced changes in fitness are mediated by direct effects on physiology and behaviour, which are tightly linked. We investigated how predicted ocean warming (OW) and acidification (OA) affect key ecological behaviours (locomotion speed and foraging success) and metabolic rate of a keystone marine mollusc, the sea hare Stylocheilus striatus, a specialist grazer of the toxic cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula. We acclimated sea hares to OW and/or OA across three developmental stages (metamorphic, juvenile, and adult) or as adults only, and compare these to sea hares maintained under current-day conditions. Generally, locomotion speed and time to locate food were reduced ~1.5- to 2-fold when the stressors (OW or OA) were experienced in isolation, but reduced ~3-fold when combined. Decision-making was also severely altered, with correct foraging choice nearly 40% lower under combined stressors. Metabolic rate appeared to acclimate to the stressors in isolation, but was significantly elevated under combined stressors. Overall, sea hares that developed under OW and/or OA exhibited a less severe impact, indicating beneficial phenotypic plasticity. Reduced foraging success coupled with increased metabolic demands may impact fitness in this species and highlight potentially large ecological consequences under unabated OW and OA, namely in regulating toxic cyanobacteria blooms on coral reefs.

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Horwitz Rael, Norin Tommy, Watson Sue-Ann, Pistevos Jennifer C. A., Beldade Ricardo, Hacquart Simon, Gattuso Jean-Pierre, Rodolfo-Metalpa Riccardo, Vidal-Dupiol Jeremie, Killen Shaun S., Mills Suzanne C. (2020). Near-future ocean warming and acidification alter foraging behaviour, locomotion, and metabolic rate in a keystone marine mollusc. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 5461 (11p.). Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-62304-4 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00618/72974/