Collaborative Research: Impacts of Elevated pCO2 on a Dominant Aragonitic Pteropod (Thecosomata) and its Specialist Predator (Gymnosomata) in the Ross Sea

大气中二氧化碳浓度的上升导致海洋对人为二氧化碳的吸收增加。二氧化碳分压升高会通过影响钙化速率的碳酸盐饱和度降低和对酸碱(代谢)生理的干扰来影响海洋生物。翼足类软体动物由文石制成的贝壳，文石是一种高度溶解的碳酸钙，这表明这些生物可能对二氧化碳增加和碳酸盐离子浓度降低特别敏感。在南极极锋南部碳酸钙出口中占主导地位的翼足类动物，将是由于人为二氧化碳而在其当今地理范围的部分区域内经历碳酸盐不饱和的第一个主要海洋钙化生物群体。生态系统与其特殊的裸子植物捕食者之间不寻常的共同进化关系为评估二氧化碳分压升高的生理和生态重要性提供了独特的背景。翼足类是南极生态系统功能上的重要组成部分，有可能影响浮游植物种群、碳输出和二甲基硫化物水平，进而通过海洋-大气反馈循环影响全球气候。这项研究将通过实验室实验，量化二氧化碳浓度升高对罗斯海优势文齿型翼足类动物Limacina helicina及其专业捕食者裸子体南极洲Clione的影响。将广泛传播成果，以增进对这一领域的科学理解。该项目涉及以本科生为主的机构(加州州立大学圣马科斯分校-CSUSM)和博士授予机构(罗德岛大学-URI)的研究人员之间的合作。该计划将通过将CSUSM和URI的本科生和研究生作为研究团队的一部分进行联合教育，以及通过主要调查人员的教学活动来促进教育和学习。CSUSM科学教育学教授基廷博士将参与麦克默多的实地考察工作，并领导该项目的外展机会。

Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations have resulted in greater oceanic uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide. Elevated partial pressure of carbon dioxide can impact marine organisms both via decreased carbonate saturation that affects calcification rates and via disturbance to acid-base (metabolic) physiology. Pteropod molluscs (Thecosomata) form shells made of aragonite, a type of calcium carbonate that is highly soluble, suggesting that these organisms may be particularly sensitive to increasing carbon dioxide and reduced carbonate ion concentration. Thecosome pteropods, which dominate the calcium carbonate export south of the Antarctic Polar Front, will be the first major group of marine calcifying organisms to experience carbonate undersaturation within parts of their present-day geographical ranges as a result of anthropogenic carbon dioxide. An unusual, co-evolved relationship between thecosomes and their specialized gymnosome predators provides a unique backdrop against which to assess the physiological and ecological importance of elevated partial pressure of carbon dioxide. Pteropods are functionally important components of the Antarctic ecosystem with potential to influence phytoplankton stocks, carbon export, and dimethyl sulfide levels that, in turn, influence global climate through ocean-atmosphere feedback loops. The research will quantify the impact of elevated carbon dioxide on a dominant aragonitic pteropod, Limacina helicina, and its specialist predator, the gymnosome Clione antarctica, in the Ross Sea through laboratory experimentation. Results will be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific understanding in this field. The project involves collaboration between researchers at a predominantly undergraduate institution with a significant enrollment of students that are typically underrepresented in the research environment (California State University San Marcos - CSUSM) and at a Ph.D.-granting institution (University of Rhode Island - URI). The program will promote education and learning through the joint education of undergraduate students and graduate students at CSUSM and URI as part of a research team, as well as through the teaching activities of the principal investigators. Dr. Keating, CSUSM professor of science education, will participate in the McMurdo fieldwork and lead the outreach opportunities for the project.