Anthropogenic CO2-mediated freshwater acidification limits survival, calcification, metabolism, and behaviour in stress-tolerant freshwater crustaceans

Abstract

Abstract. Dissolution of anthropogenic CO2 is chronically acidifying aquatic ecosystems. Studies indicate that ocean acidification will cause marine life, especially calcifying species, to suffer at the organismal and ecosystem levels. In comparison, freshwater acidification has received less attention rendering its consequences unclear. Here, juvenile Chinese mitten crabs, Eriocheir sinensis, were used as a calcifying model to investigate the impacts of CO2-mediated freshwater acidification. Our integrative approach investigating changes in the animal's acid-base homeostasis, metabolism, calcification, locomotory behaviour, and survival rate indicate that the crab will face energetic consequences from future freshwater acidification. These energetic trade-offs allow the animal to maintain its acid-base homeostasis at the cost of reduced metabolic activity, exoskeletal calcification, and locomotion reducing the animal's overall fitness and increasing its mortality. Results suggest that present-day calcifying invertebrates could be heavily affected by freshwater acidification similar to their marine organisms and emphasizes the importance in understanding the long-term implications of freshwater acidification on species fitness.