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According to a new study published this week, squid will survive and could even flourish even in the worst scenarios of ocean acidification.
Dr. Blake Spady, of the ARC Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (CoE) at James Cook University (JCU), led the study. He added that the squids lived on the edge of their environmental limits in oxygen because of their swimming technique which consumes energy. It was expected that they would come out badly with more carbon dioxide (CO2) in the water, which makes it more acidic.
"As their blood is very sensitive to acidity changes, we would expect future ocean acidification to negatively affect their aerobic performance," said Dr. Spady.
Atmospheric CO2 concentrations went from 280 parts per million (ppm) before the industrial revolution to more than 400 ppm today. Scientists project atmospheric CO2 – and by extension CO2 in the oceans – may exceed 900 ppm by the end of the century, unless CO2 emissions are reduced.
But when the team tested pygmy squid and large-scale reef squid at the JCU research aquarium, submitting them to the CO2 projected levels for the end of the century, they received a surprise.
"We found that the aerobic performance and recovery of these two tropical squid species was unaffected after a comprehensive exercise conducted by the highest level of CO expected for the end of the century.2 levels, "said Dr. Spady.
He added that this could be an added advantage for squid because it has been shown that some of its predators and prey are losing performance in the predicted climate change scenarios.
"We believe that squids have a great ability to adapt to environmental changes because of their short lifespan, their fast growth rates, their large population and their high rate of increase," said Dr. Spady.
He said the work is important because it gives a better understanding of how future ecosystems might appear under high levels of CO.2 conditions.
"We probably think that some species are well suited to succeed in our rapidly changing oceans, and these squid species could be part of it."
"What emerges with the most certainty is that the world will be very different," he said.
Source of the story:
Material provided by ARC Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies. Note: Content can be changed for style and length.
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