Article
Oysters and Eelgrass: Potential Partners in a High PCO2 Ocean
Ecology
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1-2018
Keywords
- Oysters,
- Eelgrass,
- Ocean acidification,
- Calcifying organisms
Disciplines
Abstract
Ocean acidification (OA) threatens calcifying organisms such as the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas. In contrast, eelgrass, Zostera marina, can benefit from the increase in available carbon for photosynthesis found at a lower seawater pH. Seagrasses can remove dissolved inorganic carbon from OA environments, creating local daytime pH refugia. Pacific oysters may improve the health of eelgrass by filtering out pathogens such as Labyrinthula zosterae, which causes eelgrass wasting disease (EWD). Using a laboratory experiment, we found that co-culture of eelgrass with oysters reduced the severity of EWD. EWD was also reduced in more acidic waters, which negatively affect oyster growth.
DOI
10.1002/ecy.2393
Subjects - Topical (LCSH)
Pacific oyster--Effect of water acidification on; Eelgrass; Carbon; Ocean acidification
Genre/Form
articles
Type
Text
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Maya L. Groner, Colleen A. Burge, Ruth Cox, Natalie D. Rivlin, et al.. "Oysters and Eelgrass: Potential Partners in a High PCO2 Ocean" Ecology Vol. 99 Iss. 8 (2018) p. 1802 - 1814 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/kathryn_vanalstyne/58/