Impact of anthropogenic ocean acidification on thermal tolerance of the spider crab Hyas araneus

Abstract. Future scenarios for the oceans project combined developments of CO₂ accumulation and global warming and their impact on marine ecosystems. The synergistic impact of both factors was addressed by studying the effect of elevated CO₂ concentrations on thermal tolerance of the cold-eurythermal spider crab Hyas araneus from the population around Helgoland. Here ambient temperatures characterize the southernmost distribution limit of this species. Animals were exposed to present day normocapnia (380 ppm CO₂), CO₂ levels expected towards 2100 (710 ppm) and beyond (3000 ppm). Heart rate and haemolymph PO₂ (P_eO₂) were measured during progressive short term cooling from 10 to 0°C and during warming from 10 to 25°C. An increase of P_eO₂ occurred during cooling, the highest values being reached at 0°C under all three CO₂ levels. Heart rate increased during warming until a critical temperature (T_c) was reached. The putative T_c under normocapnia was presumably >25°C, from where it fell to 23.5°C under 710 ppm and then 21.1°C under 3000 ppm. At the same time, thermal sensitivity, as seen in the Q₁₀ values of heart rate, rose with increasing CO₂ concentration in the warmth. Our results suggest a narrowing of the thermal window of Hyas araneus under moderate increases in CO₂ levels by exacerbation of the heat or cold induced oxygen and capacity limitation of thermal tolerance.