Survival of mussels in extremely acidic waters on a submarine volcano.

摘要: Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are causing ocean acidification, compromising the ability of some marine organisms to build and maintain support structures. An analysis mussels from a submarine volcano setting with natural low-pH conditions shows low shell thicknesses growth rates, but survival over up four decades. acidification1,2, structures3 as equilibrium state inorganic moves away calcium carbonate4. Few tolerate where pH falls significantly below today’s value about 8.1 aragonite calcite saturation values 1 (refs 5, 6). Here we report dense clusters vent mussel Bathymodiolus brevior in between 5.36 7.29 on northwest Eifuku volcano, Mariana arc, liquid hydrogen sulphide emerge hydrothermal setting. We find that both thickness daily increments shells only half those recorded living water pH>7.8. Low may therefore also be implicated metabolic impairment7. identify four-decade-old mussels, suggest can survive for so long if their protective covering remains intact: crabs could expose underlying carbonate dissolution absent this The mussels’ precipitate such is remarkable. Nevertheless, vulnerability molluscs predators likely increase future pH.