Dataset: Mesocosm study of trophic interactions under ocean acidification, focusing on the consumption of snails by sea stars in Bodega Bay, CA.

Final no updates expectedDOI: 10.26008/1912/bco-dmo.869189.1Version 1 (2022-03-09)Dataset Type:experimental

Principal Investigator: Brian Gaylord (University of California - Davis: Bodega Marine Laboratory)

Student, Contact: Brittany Jellison (University of New Hampshire)

BCO-DMO Data Manager: Taylor Heyl (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

BCO-DMO Data Manager: Shannon Rauch (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)


Project: Trophic consequences of ocean acidification: Intertidal sea star predators and their grazer prey (BOAR Trophic)


Abstract

This dataset represents a mesocosm study of trophic interactions under ocean acidification, focusing on the consumption of snails by sea stars in Bodega Bay, California. This dataset is part of a larger experiment to investigate how pH influences trophic links between intertidal sea stars (Leptasterias hexactis), snails (Tegula funebralis), and macroalgae (Mazzaella flaccida).

This dataset is part of a larger experiment to investigate how pH influences trophic links between intertidal sea stars (Leptasterias hexactis), snails (Tegula funebralis), and macroalgae (Mazzaella flaccida). Organisms were placed for 7 days in mesocosms containing seawater at either ambient (~7.9) or low pH (~7.0). The pH was modified using equimolar additions of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and hydrochloric acid (HCl). This direct chemical modification of seawater increases dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) without altering total alkalinity (TA), reproducing the same chemical changes that occur when bubbling CO2 gas through seawater. The water in each container was changed daily. The mesocosm array consisted of 40, 13-liter (L) circular plastic containers with a mesh barrier down the center to separate predator, prey, and/or basal resource but allowing for passage of waterborne cue. Mesocosms were filled halfway with seawater, allowing 10 centimeters (cm) of refuge space for snails above the waterline. Mesocosms were held within a seawater table under constant flow to maintain consistent temperatures.

Each mesocosm was assigned to one of four trophic treatments and one of two pH levels, resulting in five replicates per treatment and pH (4 trophic × 2 pH × 5 replicates = 40 mesocosms). The first trophic treatment was a “no-predator” configuration, composed of four snails and four 3-cm-diameter circular pieces of Mazzaella macroalgae cut out of blades (four pieces = 0.33 g ± 0.03 in total, with each piece standardized to have similar initial mass), both placed on one side of the central barrier of the mesocosm. The second trophic treatment was a “cue only” treatment in which one sea star was housed on one side of the barrier with four snails and macroalgae on the other side. The third was a “complete interaction” treatment in which one sea star, four snails, and macroalgae were all located on the same side of the barrier. The final trophic treatment was a “no prey/no grazing” configuration, for which one sea star was placed on one side of the barrier with the macroalgae on the other.

The effect of pH on the strength of direct trophic effects was estimated from measurements of sea star consumption of snails in the complete interaction treatment across pH levels. The number of snails eaten was determined by visually assessing containers to determine if sea stars were actively eating a snail and then removing and counting the number of consumed snails (empty shells) in the complete interaction containers at the end of each day.


Related Datasets

IsRelatedTo

Dataset: Mesocosm study: sea star behavior
Jellison, B., Gaylord, B. (2022) Mesocosm study of trophic interactions under ocean acidification, focusing on sea star behavior in Bodega Bay, CA. Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO). (Version 1) Version Date 2022-03-16 doi:10.26008/1912/bco-dmo.866365.1
IsRelatedTo

Dataset: Mesocosm study: snail behavior
Jellison, B., Gaylord, B. (2022) Mesocosm study of trophic interactions under ocean acidification, focusing on snail responses Bodega Bay, CA. Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO). (Version 1) Version Date 2022-03-09 doi:10.26008/1912/bco-dmo.869148.1
IsRelatedTo

Dataset: Mesocosm study: algae eaten
Jellison, B., Gaylord, B. (2022) Mesocosm study of trophic interactions under ocean acidification, focusing on the consumption of algae by snails in Bodega Bay, California. Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO). (Version 1) Version Date 2022-03-09 doi:10.26008/1912/bco-dmo.866359.1
IsRelatedTo

Dataset: Mesocosm study: seawater chemistry
Jellison, B., Gaylord, B. (2022) Water chemistry during mesocosm study of trophic interactions under ocean acidification in Bodega Bay, CA. Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO). (Version 1) Version Date 2022-03-09 doi:10.26008/1912/bco-dmo.869110.1

Related Publications

Results

Jellison, B. M., & Gaylord, B. (2019). Shifts in seawater chemistry disrupt trophic links within a simple shoreline food web. Oecologia, 190(4), 955–967. doi:10.1007/s00442-019-04459-0