Oceanic Acidification's Influence Unveiled on Shrimp Biology in New Study
The June 1 issue of Scientific Reports published a groundbreaking study on the effects of ocean acidification on marine life, focusing on the red rock shrimp (Scylla serrata). Jennifer Taylor, a marine biologist from Scripps Oceanography at UC San Diego, led the research, with contributions from Dimitri Deheyn, Michael Allen, and Jasmine Gilleard.
The study, titled "Effects of ocean acidification on the biomechanical properties and transparency of red rock shrimp (Scylla serrata)", reveals that higher levels of carbon dioxide in seawater could lead to more calcium in shrimp exoskeletons and a decrease in their transparency. This rapid change was observed in just three weeks.
The research team collected red rock shrimp from the water around Scripps Pier and compared the chemical composition and transparency of shrimp exoskeletons (shells) between animals kept in control and reduced pH conditions. The results indicate that ocean acidification may adversely impact the shrimp's biomechanical properties and its ability to avoid predators either through camouflage or escape behavior.
Shrimp rely on their shells to cover, support, and protect their internal soft bodies. However, the increased shell calcification and decreased transparency observed in the study could weaken the shells and affect the shrimp's overall biomechanical properties, such as structural integrity and resistance to predators.
In addition, the changes in the red rock shrimp's morphology and visual ecology were surprising. Rock shrimp use transparency between patches of colors to camouflage themselves from predators. However, the decreased transparency observed in the study could affect their ability to blend in with their surroundings.
Both Taylor and Deheyn agree that further studies are needed to fully understand the ecological impacts of increased acidity on marine life. Funding for the study was provided by the Scripps Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.
An image gallery accompanying the study features photos of the red rock shrimp used in the research. Christina Wu, an author of the related image gallery, captured the images.
This is the first study to examine the effects of lower pH on shrimp transparency, exoskeleton structure, and chemistry. The findings underscore the potential threats that ocean acidification poses to marine life, especially for species that rely on transparency for their ecology.
[1] Taylor, J., Deheyn, D., Allen, M., Gilleard, J., & Wu, C. (2023). Effects of ocean acidification on the biomechanical properties and transparency of red rock shrimp (Scylla serrata). Scientific Reports, 13(1), 1-12. [2] Deheyn, D. (2023). Personal communication.
