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Taucher J, Lechtenbörger AK, Bouquet JM, Spisla C, Boxhammer T, Minutolo F, Bach LT, Lohbeck KT, Sswat M, Dörner I, Ismar-Rebitz SMH, Thompson EM, Riebesell U. The appendicularian Oikopleura dioica can enhance carbon export in a high CO 2 ocean. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17020. [PMID: 37947122 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Gelatinous zooplankton are increasingly recognized to play a key role in the ocean's biological carbon pump. Appendicularians, a class of pelagic tunicates, are among the most abundant gelatinous plankton in the ocean, but it is an open question how their contribution to carbon export might change in the future. Here, we conducted an experiment with large volume in situ mesocosms (~55-60 m3 and 21 m depth) to investigate how ocean acidification (OA) extreme events affect food web structure and carbon export in a natural plankton community, particularly focusing on the keystone species Oikopleura dioica, a globally abundant appendicularian. We found a profound influence of O. dioica on vertical carbon fluxes, particularly during a short but intense bloom period in the high CO2 treatment, during which carbon export was 42%-64% higher than under ambient conditions. This elevated flux was mostly driven by an almost twofold increase in O. dioica biomass under high CO2 . This rapid population increase was linked to enhanced fecundity (+20%) that likely resulted from physiological benefits of low pH conditions. The resulting competitive advantage of O. dioica resulted in enhanced grazing on phytoplankton and transfer of this consumed biomass into sinking particles. Using a simple carbon flux model for O. dioica, we estimate that high CO2 doubled the carbon flux of discarded mucous houses and fecal pellets, accounting for up to 39% of total carbon export from the ecosystem during the bloom. Considering the wide geographic distribution of O. dioica, our findings suggest that appendicularians may become an increasingly important vector of carbon export with ongoing OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Taucher
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Jean-Marie Bouquet
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Michael Sars Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Carsten Spisla
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Tim Boxhammer
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Fabrizio Minutolo
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
- Institute of Carbon Cycles, Helmholtz-Centre Hereon, Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Lennart Thomas Bach
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Kai T Lohbeck
- Limnological Institute, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Michael Sswat
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Isabel Dörner
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Eric M Thompson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Michael Sars Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ulf Riebesell
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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D'Alelio D, Hay Mele B, Libralato S, Ribera d'Alcalà M, Jordán F. Rewiring and indirect effects underpin modularity reshuffling in a marine food web under environmental shifts. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:11631-11646. [PMID: 31695874 PMCID: PMC6822054 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Species are characterized by physiological and behavioral plasticity, which is part of their response to environmental shifts. Nonetheless, the collective response of ecological communities to environmental shifts cannot be predicted from the simple sum of individual species responses, since co-existing species are deeply entangled in interaction networks, such as food webs. For these reasons, the relation between environmental forcing and the structure of food webs is an open problem in ecology. To this respect, one of the main problems in community ecology is defining the role each species plays in shaping community structure, such as by promoting the subdivision of food webs in modules-that is, aggregates composed of species that more frequently interact-which are reported as community stabilizers. In this study, we investigated the relationship between species roles and network modularity under environmental shifts in a highly resolved food web, that is, a "weighted" ecological network reproducing carbon flows among marine planktonic species. Measuring network properties and estimating weighted modularity, we show that species have distinct roles, which differentially affect modularity and mediate structural modifications, such as modules reconfiguration, induced by environmental shifts. Specifically, short-term environmental changes impact the abundance of planktonic primary producers; this affects their consumers' behavior and cascades into the overall rearrangement of trophic links. Food web re-adjustments are both direct, through the rewiring of trophic-interaction networks, and indirect, with the reconfiguration of trophic cascades. Through such "systemic behavior," that is, the way the food web acts as a whole, defined by the interactions among its parts, the planktonic food web undergoes a substantial rewiring while keeping almost the same global flow to upper trophic levels, and energetic hierarchy is maintained despite environmental shifts. This behavior suggests the potentially high resilience of plankton networks, such as food webs, to dramatic environmental changes, such as those provoked by global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico D'Alelio
- Department of Integrative Marine EcologyStazione Zoologica Anton DohrnNaplesItaly
| | - Bruno Hay Mele
- Department of Integrative Marine EcologyStazione Zoologica Anton DohrnNaplesItaly
| | - Simone Libralato
- Oceanography DivisionIstituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale ‐ OGSTriesteItaly
| | - Maurizio Ribera d'Alcalà
- Department of Integrative Marine EcologyStazione Zoologica Anton DohrnNaplesItaly
- Oceanography DivisionIstituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale ‐ OGSTriesteItaly
| | - Ferenc Jordán
- Department of Integrative Marine EcologyStazione Zoologica Anton DohrnNaplesItaly
- Balaton Limnological Institute and Evolutionary Systems Research GroupMTA Centre for Ecological ResearchTihanyHungary
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3
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Havenhand JN, Filipsson HL, Niiranen S, Troell M, Crépin AS, Jagers S, Langlet D, Matti S, Turner D, Winder M, de Wit P, Anderson LG. Ecological and functional consequences of coastal ocean acidification: Perspectives from the Baltic-Skagerrak System. AMBIO 2019; 48:831-854. [PMID: 30506502 PMCID: PMC6541583 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-018-1110-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Revised: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Ocean temperatures are rising; species are shifting poleward, and pH is falling (ocean acidification, OA). We summarise current understanding of OA in the brackish Baltic-Skagerrak System, focussing on the direct, indirect and interactive effects of OA with other anthropogenic drivers on marine biogeochemistry, organisms and ecosystems. Substantial recent advances reveal a pattern of stronger responses (positive or negative) of species than ecosystems, more positive responses at lower trophic levels and strong indirect interactions in food-webs. Common emergent themes were as follows: OA drives planktonic systems toward the microbial loop, reducing energy transfer to zooplankton and fish; and nutrient/food availability ameliorates negative impacts of OA. We identify several key areas for further research, notably the need for OA-relevant biogeochemical and ecosystem models, and understanding the ecological and evolutionary capacity of Baltic-Skagerrak ecosystems to respond to OA and other anthropogenic drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan N. Havenhand
- Department of Marine Sciences, Tjärnö Marine Laboratory, University of Gothenburg, Strömstad, 45296 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | - Susa Niiranen
- Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Kräftriket 2B, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Max Troell
- Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Kräftriket 2B, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
- Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics, Royal Swedish Academy of Science, Lilla Frescativägen 4, 10405 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anne-Sophie Crépin
- Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics, Royal Swedish Academy of Science, Lilla Frescativägen 4, 10405 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sverker Jagers
- Department of Political Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 711, Sprängkullsgatan 19, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - David Langlet
- Department of Law, University of Gothenburg, Box 650, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Simon Matti
- Department of Political Sciences, Luleå University of Technology, 97187 Luleå, Sweden
| | - David Turner
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 461, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Monika Winder
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pierre de Wit
- Department of Marine Sciences, Tjärnö Marine Laboratory, University of Gothenburg, Strömstad, 45296 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Leif G. Anderson
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 461, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
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Extreme temperature impairs growth and productivity in a common tropical marine copepod. Sci Rep 2019; 9:4550. [PMID: 30872725 PMCID: PMC6418224 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-40996-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Shallow, tropical marine ecosystems provide essential ecosystem goods and services, but it is unknown how these ecosystems will respond to the increased exposure to the temperature extremes that are likely to become more common as climate change progresses. To address this issue, we tracked the fitness and productivity of a key zooplankton species, the copepod Pseudodiaptomus annandalei, acclimated at two temperatures (30 and 34 °C) over three generations. 30 °C is the mean temperature in the shallow water of the coastal regions in Southeast Asia, while 34 °C simulated a temperature extreme that occurs frequently during the summer period. For each generation, we measured the size at maturity and reproductive success of individuals. In all three generations, we found strong negative effects of warming on all measured fitness-related parameters, including prolonged development time, reduced size at maturity, smaller clutch sizes, lower hatching success, and reduced naupliar production. Our results suggest that P. annandalei are already exposed to temperatures that exceed their upper thermal optimum. Increased exposure to extreme temperatures may reduce the abundance of these tropical marine copepods, and thus reduce the availability of resources to higher trophic levels.
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Ferrández-Roldán A, Martí-Solans J, Cañestro C, Albalat R. Oikopleura dioica: An Emergent Chordate Model to Study the Impact of Gene Loss on the Evolution of the Mechanisms of Development. Results Probl Cell Differ 2019; 68:63-105. [PMID: 31598853 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-23459-1_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The urochordate Oikopleura dioica is emerging as a nonclassical animal model in the field of evolutionary developmental biology (a.k.a. evo-devo) especially attractive for investigating the impact of gene loss on the evolution of mechanisms of development. This is because this organism fulfills the requirements of an animal model (i.e., has a simple and accessible morphology, a short generation time and life span, and affordable culture in the laboratory and amenable experimental manipulation), but also because O. dioica occupies a key phylogenetic position to understand the diversification and origin of our own phylum, the chordates. During its evolution, O. dioica genome has suffered a drastic process of compaction, becoming the smallest known chordate genome, a process that has been accompanied by exacerbating amount of gene losses. Interestingly, however, despite the extensive gene losses, including entire regulatory pathways essential for the embryonic development of other chordates, O. dioica retains the typical chordate body plan. This unexpected situation led to the formulation of the so-called inverse paradox of evo-devo, that is, when a genetic diversity is able to maintain a phenotypic unity. This chapter reviews the biological features of O. dioica as a model animal, along with the current data on the evolution of its genes and genome. We pay special attention to the numerous examples of gene losses that have taken place during the evolution of this unique animal model, which is helping us to understand to which the limits of evo-devo can be pushed off.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Ferrández-Roldán
- Facultat de Biologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Josep Martí-Solans
- Facultat de Biologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Cristian Cañestro
- Facultat de Biologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Ricard Albalat
- Facultat de Biologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
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Conley KR, Lombard F, Sutherland KR. Mammoth grazers on the ocean's minuteness: a review of selective feeding using mucous meshes. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:20180056. [PMID: 29720410 PMCID: PMC5966591 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.0056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucous-mesh grazers (pelagic tunicates and thecosome pteropods) are common in oceanic waters and efficiently capture, consume and repackage particles many orders of magnitude smaller than themselves. They feed using an adhesive mucous mesh to capture prey particles from ambient seawater. Historically, their grazing process has been characterized as non-selective, depending only on the size of the prey particle and the pore dimensions of the mesh. The purpose of this review is to reverse this assumption by reviewing recent evidence that shows mucous-mesh feeding can be selective. We focus on large planktonic microphages as a model of selective mucus feeding because of their important roles in the ocean food web: as bacterivores, prey for higher trophic levels, and exporters of carbon via mucous aggregates, faecal pellets and jelly-falls. We identify important functional variations in the filter mechanics and hydrodynamics of different taxa. We review evidence that shows this feeding strategy depends not only on the particle size and dimensions of the mesh pores, but also on particle shape and surface properties, filter mechanics, hydrodynamics and grazer behaviour. As many of these organisms remain critically understudied, we conclude by suggesting priorities for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keats R Conley
- Department of Biology, 5289 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Fabien Lombard
- Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche-sur-Mer, 06230 Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
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7
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Calatayud S, Garcia-Risco M, Rojas NS, Espinosa-Sánchez L, Artime S, Palacios Ò, Cañestro C, Albalat R. Metallothioneins of the urochordate Oikopleura dioica have Cys-rich tandem repeats, large size and cadmium-binding preference. Metallomics 2018; 10:1585-1594. [DOI: 10.1039/c8mt00177d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Oikopleura dioica has the longest metallothionein described so far, made of repeats generated by a modular and step-wise evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Calatayud
- Departament de Genètica
- Microbiologia i Estadística and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio)
- Facultat de Biologia
- Universitat de Barcelona
- Barcelona
| | - Mario Garcia-Risco
- Departament de Química
- Facultat de Ciències
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
- E-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès
- Spain
| | - Natalia S. Rojas
- Departament de Genètica
- Microbiologia i Estadística and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio)
- Facultat de Biologia
- Universitat de Barcelona
- Barcelona
| | - Lizethe Espinosa-Sánchez
- Departament de Genètica
- Microbiologia i Estadística and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio)
- Facultat de Biologia
- Universitat de Barcelona
- Barcelona
| | - Sebastián Artime
- Departament de Genètica
- Microbiologia i Estadística and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio)
- Facultat de Biologia
- Universitat de Barcelona
- Barcelona
| | - Òscar Palacios
- Departament de Química
- Facultat de Ciències
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
- E-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès
- Spain
| | - Cristian Cañestro
- Departament de Genètica
- Microbiologia i Estadística and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio)
- Facultat de Biologia
- Universitat de Barcelona
- Barcelona
| | - Ricard Albalat
- Departament de Genètica
- Microbiologia i Estadística and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio)
- Facultat de Biologia
- Universitat de Barcelona
- Barcelona
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