Effects of Enhanced pCO2and Temperature on Reproduction and Survival of the Copepod Calanus sinicus

Abstract

We tested the combined effects of increased partial pressure of CO₂ (pCO₂) and temperature on the reproduction and survival of the copepod Calanus sinicus from Asan Bay, the Yellow Sea under laboratory conditions to understand the impact of acidification on copepods. Egg production rate, survival rate, and fecal pellet production of C. sinicus were not affected by 1305 ppm pCO₂ or with combined treatments of temperature and pCO₂, including 8℃ and 289 ppm pCO₂ (ambient), 8℃ and 753 ppm pCO₂ (high pCO₂), 12℃ and 289 ppm pCO₂ (high temperature), and 12℃ and 753 ppm pCO₂ (greenhouse), for 5 or 10 d of exposure. However, egg hatching success of C. sinicus decreased significantly in the greenhouse treatment compared with the ambient or the high pCO₂ treatments. These results suggest that a combined treatment (pCO₂ and temperature) affected egg viability more than a single treatment (pCO₂).