Long-term exposure to acidification disrupts reproduction in a marine invertebrate

We used a population of the barnacle Balanus improvisus known to be sensitive to short-term acidification to determine its potential for long-term acclimation to acidification. We reared laboratory-bred individuals (as singles or pairs), and field-collected assemblages of barnacles, at pH 8.1 and 7.5 ( 400 and 1600 ?atm pCO2 respectively) for up to 16 months.

Acidification caused strong mortality and reduced growth rates. Acidification suppressed respiration rates and induced a higher feeding activity of barnacles after 6 months, but this suppression of respiration rate was absent after 15 months. Laboratory- bred barnacles developed mature gonads only when they were held in pairs, but nonethe- less failed to produce fertilized embryos.