The impact of ocean acidification and warming on the skeletal mechanical properties of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus from laboratory and field observations

Increased atmospheric CO2 concentration is leading to changes in the carbonate chemistry and the temperature of the ocean. The impact of these processes on marine organisms will depend on their ability to cope with those changes, particularly the maintenance of calcium carbonate structures. Both a laboratory experiment (long-term exposure to decreased pH and increased temperature) and collections of individuals from natural environments characterized by low pH levels (individuals from intertidal pools and around a CO2 seep) were here coupled to comprehensively study the impact of near-future conditions of pH and temperature on the mechanical properties of the skeleton of the euechinoid sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. To assess skeletal mechanical properties, we characterized the fracture force, Young's modulus, second moment of area, material nanohardness, and specific Young's modulus of sea urchin test plates. None of these parameters were significantly affected by low pH and/or increased temperature in the laboratory experiment and by low pH only in the individuals chronically exposed to lowered pH from the CO2 seeps. In tidal pools, the fracture force was higher and the Young's modulus lower in ambital plates of individuals from the rock pool characterized by the largest pH variations but also a dominance of calcifying algae, which might explain some of the variation. Thus, decreases of pH to levels expected for 2100 did not directly alter the mechanical properties of the test of P. lividus. Since the maintenance of test integrity is a question of survival for sea urchins and since weakened tests would increase the sea urchins' risk of predation, our findings indicate that the decreasing seawater pH and increasing seawater temperature expected for the end of the century should not represent an immediate threat to sea urchins vulnerability

Summary of physical properties on cores used for petrofabric analyses triaxial experiments at DSDP Leg 67 Holes

Deformation features within the cores are studied with a view towards elucidating the structure of the Middle America Trench along the transect drilled during Leg 67. Where possible, inferences are made as to the physical environment of deformation. Extensional tectonics prevails in the area of the seaward slope and trench. Fracturing and one well-preserved normal fault are found mostly within the lower Miocene chalks, at the base of the sedimentary section. These chalks have high porosities (40%-60%) and water content (30%-190%, based on % dry wt.). Experimental triaxial compression tests conducted on both dry and water-saturated samples of chalk from Holes 495 and 499B show that only in the saturated samples is more brittle behavior observed. Brittle failure of the chalks is greatly facilitated by pore fluid pressures that lead to low effective pressures. Additional embrittlement (weakening) can take place as a result of the imposed extensional stress resulting from bending of a subducting elastic oceanic plate. The chalks exhibit, in a landward direction, an increase in density and mechanical strength and a decrease in water content. These changes are attributed to mechanical compaction that may have resulted from tectonic horizontal compression. The structure of the landward slope is not well understood because the slope sites had to be abandoned due to the presence of gas hydrate. The relationship of the chaotic, brittle deformation (observed in the cores from Hole 494A) at the base of the landward slope to tectonic processes remains unclear. The deformation observed on the slope sites (Holes 496 and 497) is mostly fracturing and near-vertical sigmoidal veinlets. These are interpreted as being the result of gas/fluid overpressurization due to the decomposition of the gas hydrate, and not due to tectonic loading of accreted sediments. Aside from four small displacement (less than 1cm) reverse faults observed in the lower Miocene chalks (which may be the product of soft-sediment deformation), there is a noticeable absence of structures reflecting a dominance of horizontal (tectonic) compression along the transect drilled. The absence of such features, the lack of continuity of sediment types across the trench-landward slope, and the normal stratigraphic sequence in Hole 494A do not support any known accretionary model.

Mechanical behavior of ODP Hole 137-504B basalts

Core samples of basalt collected from Hole 504B during Leg 137 were investigated regarding their mechanical behavior. The rock samples were measured for hardness, compression strength, and modulus of elasticity. Abrasion loss of weight and Shore sclerometer methods were used for determining hardness. Static and dynamic methods were used for calculating modulus of elasticity. Test results were compared with shipboard measurements of ultrasonic velocity and dry-bulk density. Test results were interpreted statistically to provide data not only on mechanical behavior changes of the rock but also on the precision of the methods used.

Mechanical properties and comparisons of dynamic and static Young's moduli at DSDP Holes 69-504B, 70-504B and 83-504B

From laboratory tests under simulated downhole conditions we tentatively conclude that the higher the triaxial-compressive strength, the lower the drilling rate of basalts from DSDP Hole 504B. Because strength is roughly proportional to Young's modulus of elasticity, which is related in turn to seismic-wave velocities, one may be able to estimate drilling rates from routine shipboard measurements. However, further research is needed to verify that P-wave velocity is a generally useful predictor of relative drilling rate.

Stomach content records of albacore (Thunnus alalunga) and bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) in the North Atlantic Drift Region focusing on the Bay of Biscay between 2004 and 2011

The tuna stomach database from AZTI-Tecnalia corresponds to 7 years of sampling from 2004 to 2011. Due to the absence of continuity in the different projects dealing with the feeding ecology of tunas, the sampling could not be performed every year for both species, and no sample was collected in 2008. However, the fish stomach content record contents composition - by prey weight - of 1525 albacore caught in the Bay of Biscay and surrounding waters of the North Atlantic Drift Region in 2005 (n=397), 2006 (n=196), 2007 (n=37), 2009 (n=95), 2010 (n=566) and 2011 (n=234) ; and of 686 bluefin tunas caught in the Southeastern Bay of Biscay in 2004 (n=32), 2005 (n=36), 2006 (n=3), 2009 (n=257), 2010 (n=233) and 2011 (n=125). Samples have been obtained from scientific research surveys (using a variety of different fishing gears), from commercial fisheries catches, from individual fish voluntarily sampled by recreational fishermen and from fish accidentally stranded on coastlines. Each predator is identified by an ID and its length and wet weight are given. In case the wet weight could not be measured, it was estimated through a length-weight relationship equation and is indicated in the comment for the Predator mass column. The total weight of each prey is given, as well as the weight of each prey taxonomic group in each stomach.

Ocean acidification alters the material properties of Mytilus edulis shells

Ocean acidification (OA) and the resultant changing carbonate saturation states is threatening the formation of calcium carbonate shells and exoskeletons of marine organisms. The production of biominerals in such organisms relies on the availability of carbonate and the ability of the organism to biomineralize in changing environments. To understand how biomineralizers will respond to OA the common blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, was cultured at projected levels of pCO2 (380, 550, 750, 1000 µatm) and increased temperatures (ambient, ambient plus 2°C). Nanoindentation (a single mussel shell) and microhardness testing were used to assess the material properties of the shells. Young's modulus (E), hardness (H) and toughness (KIC) were measured in mussel shells grown in multiple stressor conditions. OA caused mussels to produce shell calcite that is stiffer (higher modulus of elasticity) and harder than shells grown in control conditions. The outer shell (calcite) is more brittle in OA conditions while the inner shell (aragonite) is softer and less stiff in shells grown under OA conditions. Combining increasing ocean pCO2 and temperatures as projected for future global ocean appears to reduce the impact of increasing pCO2 on the material properties of the mussel shell. OA may cause changes in shell material properties that could prove problematic under predation scenarios for the mussels; however, this may be partially mitigated by increasing temperature.