25% Reduction In Marine Invertebrate Reproduction Likely Outcome Of Ocean Acidification - Reuters

[hatrack]

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Rising acidification of the ocean could reduce fertilization of marine invertebrates and might eventually wipe out colonies of sea urchins, lobsters, mussels and oysters, according to a study. Scientists knew that ocean acidification was eating away at the shells of marine animals, but the new study has found that rising acidity hindered marine sperm from swimming to and fertilizing eggs in the ocean.

Climate change and the subsequent acidification of the world's oceans will significantly reduce the successful fertilization of certain marine species by the year 2100, said the report by Australian and Swedish scientists. "If you look at projected rates (of acidity) for the year 2100, we are finding a 25 percent reduction in fertilization," lead-scientist Jane Williamson from Macquarie University told Reuters on Friday.

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The study of sea urchins around southeast Australia found a link between increased ocean acidity and a reduction in swimming speed and motility of sea urchin sperm. The researchers measured sperm swimming speed, sperm motility, fertilization success and larval developmental success in sea urchins in normal seawater with a pH 8.1 and also in water with a pH 7.7, which is projected to be the level of acidification by 2100.

The experiment found that in water with acidity at 7.7, the sperm swam much more slowly and began failing to meet the eggs. Fertilization fell by 25 percent and in almost 26 percent of cases where eggs were fertilized they did not survive to develop into larvae, said the study published in "Current Biology".

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http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSSYD16465220080815

[Muttocracy]

1. not much lives in carbonated water :( nt