Influence of sediment acidification and water flow on sediment acceptance and dispersal of juvenile soft-shell clams (Mya arenaria L.)

• Published in: Journal of experimental marine biology and ecology Vol. 453; pp. 62 - 69
• Main Authors: Clements, Jeff C., Hunt, Heather L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 01-04-2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Calcium carbonate; Clam dispersal; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Invertebrates; Mollusca; Ocean acidification; Sediment acceptance; Soft-shell clam; pH; Clam dispersal; Ocean acidification; Soft-shell clam; Calcium carbonate; Sediment acceptance; Acidification; Water flow; Sediments; Dispersion; Bivalvia; Shell(anatomy); Mya arenaria; Ocean; Invertebrata; Mollusca
• ISSN: 0022-0981; 1879-1697
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jembe.2014.01.002

Although ocean acidification is expected to reduce carbonate saturation and yield negative impacts on open-ocean calcifying organisms in the near future, acidification in coastal ecosystems may already be affecting these organisms. Few studies have addressed the effects of sedimentary saturation state on benthic invertebrates. Here, we investigate whether sedimentary aragonite saturation (Ωaragonite) and proton concentration ([H+]) affect burrowing and dispersal rates of juvenile soft-shell clams (Mya arenaria) in a laboratory flume experiment. Two size classes of juvenile clams (0.5–1.5mm and 1.51–2.5mm) were subjected to a range of sediment Ωaragonite and [H+] conditions within the range of typical estuarine sediments (Ωaragonite 0.21–1.87; pH6.8–7.8; [H+] 1.58×10−8–1.51×10-7) by the addition of varying amounts of CO2, while overlying water pH was kept constant ~7.8 (Ωaragonite ~1.97). There was a significant positive relationship between the percent of juvenile clams burrowed in still water and Ωaragonite and a significant negative relationship between burrowing and [H+]. Clams were subsequently exposed to one of two different flow conditions (flume; 11cms−1 and 23cms−1) and there was a significant negative relationship between Ωaragonite and dispersal, regardless of clam size class and flow speed. No apparent relationship was evident between dispersal and [H+]. The results of this study suggest that sediment acidification may play an important role in soft-shell clam recruitment and dispersal. When assessing the impacts of open-ocean and coastal acidification on infaunal organisms, future studies should address the effects of sediment acidification to adequately understand how calcifying organisms may be affected by shifting pH conditions.
•pH appears to be a good predictor of Ωaragonite.•Significant positive relationship between Ωaragonite and % clams burrowed.•Significant negative relationship between [H+] and % clams burrowed.•Significant negative relationship between Ωaragonite and % dispersal of clams.•Flow speed and acidification had significant independent effects on clam dispersal.