An understanding of biomineralisation pathways is key to predict climate change impact on aquaculture.

随着化石燃料燃烧释放到大气中的二氧化碳不断增加，环境正在发生变化。大气正在变暖，海洋正在吸收更多的二氧化碳，变得更加酸性。这种海洋pH值的降低被称为海洋酸化。碳酸钙在海洋中很丰富，因为贝类等生物会产生保护壳结构。在海洋酸化的情况下，海洋中可用的碳酸盐数量将减少，限制生物产生保护壳的能力。该项目将调查海洋酸化和变暖对三种贝类产生保护壳的能力的影响。商业上可获得的贝类将在实验室中在未来海洋酸化和变暖的条件下培养。将测试贝壳的物理和材料特性，以了解贝壳在不断变化的环境和捕食下的脆弱性。该项目将确定软体动物如何生产碳酸钙外壳，确定碳源和在气候变化下生产外壳的途径。这些知识将有助于准确预测水产养殖对海洋酸化和变暖的脆弱性。将制定喂养实验和收获协议，以减轻水产养殖过程中对贝壳的潜在损害，以实现更有弹性、可持续和更经济的贝类养殖。

The environment is changing as increasing carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels. The atmosphere is warming and the oceans are absorbing more carbon dioxide and becoming more acidic. This reduction in ocean pH is known as ocean acidification. Calcium carbonate is abundant in the oceans as organisms such as shellfish produce protective shell structures. The amount of carbonate available in the oceans under ocean acidification will be reduced, limiting the ability of organisms to produce protective shells. This project will investigate the influence of ocean acidification and warming on the ability of three shellfish species to produce protective shells. Commercially available shellfish will be cultured under future ocean acidification and warming conditions in a laboratory. Shells will be tested for physical and material properties to understand the vulnerability of shells to fracture under changing environments and predation. This project will determine how molluscs produce their calcium carbonate shells, identifying the carbon source and route for shell production under changing climates. This knowledge will enable accurate predictions of the vulnerability of aquaculture to ocean acidification and warming. Feeding experiments and harvesting protocols will be developed to alleviate potential damage to shells during aquaculture for a more resilient, sustainable and more economical shellfish culture.