Oceanlab, University of Aberdeen, Main Street, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire AB41 6AA, UK.
Mar Pollut Bull. 2013 Aug 30;73(2):435-42. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.11.023. Epub 2012 Dec 6.
Whilst the biological consequences of long-term, gradual changes in acidity associated with the oceanic uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) are increasingly studied, the potential effects of rapid acidification associated with a failure of sub-seabed carbon storage infrastructure have received less attention. This study investigates the effects of severe short-term (8days) exposure to acidified seawater on infaunal mediation of ecosystem processes (bioirrigation and sediment particle redistribution) and functioning (nutrient concentrations). Following acidification, individuals of Amphiura filiformis exhibited emergent behaviour typical of a stress response, which resulted in altered bioturbation, but limited changes in nutrient cycling. Under acidified conditions, A. filiformis moved to shallower depths within the sediment and the variability in occupancy depth reduced considerably. This study indicated that rapid acidification events may not be lethal to benthic invertebrates, but may result in behavioural changes that could have longer-term implications for species survival, ecosystem structure and functioning.
虽然与大气二氧化碳（CO2）在海洋中吸收相关的长期、逐渐变化的酸度对生物造成的后果越来越受到研究，但海底碳储存基础设施故障导致的快速酸化的潜在影响却受到较少关注。本研究调查了严重短期（8 天）暴露于酸化海水中对底栖动物介导的生态系统过程（生物搅动和沉积物颗粒再分布）和功能（营养浓度）的影响。酸化后，Amphiura filiformis 的个体表现出典型的应激反应的出芽行为，这导致生物搅动发生改变，但养分循环的变化有限。在酸化条件下，A. filiformis 移动到沉积物中的较浅深度，占据深度的可变性大大降低。本研究表明，快速酸化事件可能不会对底栖无脊椎动物致命，但可能导致行为发生变化，这可能对物种生存、生态系统结构和功能产生长期影响。
