Decrease in volume and density of foraminiferal shells with progressing ocean acidification

Rapid increases in anthropogenic atmospheric CO2 partial pressure have led to a decrease in the pH of seawater. Calcifying organisms generally respond negatively to ocean acidification. Foraminifera are one of the major carbonate producers in the ocean; however, whether calcification reduction by ocean acidification affects either foraminiferal shell volume or density, or both, has yet to be investigated. In this study, we cultured asexually reproducing specimens of Amphisorus kudakajimensis, a dinoflagellate endosymbiont-bearing large benthic foraminifera (LBF), under different pH conditions (pH 7.7–8.3, NBS scale). The results suggest that changes in seawater pH would affect not only the quantity (i.e., shell volume) but also the quality (i.e., shell density) of foraminiferal calcification. We proposed that pH and temperature affect these growth parameters differently because (1) they have differences in the contribution to the calcification process (e.g., Ca2+-ATPase and Ω) and (2) pH mainly affects calcification and temperature mainly affects photosynthesis. Our findings also suggest that, under the IPCC RCP8.5 scenario, both ocean acidification and warming will have a significant impact on reef foraminiferal carbonate production by the end of this century, even in the tropics.

LARGE BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA PFENDERICONUS GLOBULUS SIREL & DECEVILER IN SIREL ET AL., 2020 (PRIABONIAN OF TURKEY): A JUNIOR SYNONYM OF PFENDERICONUS MINDANAOENSIS MATSUMARU, 2017 (THANETIAN? OF THE PHILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGO)

Pfendericonus mindanaoensis Matsumaru, 2017 from the Thanetian? of the Philippine Archipelago and Pfendericonus globulus Sirel & Deceviler (in Sirel et al. 2020) from the Priabonian of Turkey display the same internal structure, similar dimensions and both are characterized by possessing wedge-like adult chambers. These species are thus considered synonymous and therefore based on priority date of publication, P. globulus should be considered a subjective junior synonym of P. mindanaoensis.

The late Berriasian early evolutionary burst of the Orbitolinidae: New insights into taxonomy, origin, diversification and phylogeny of the family based on data from eastern Serbia

New data from the Carpatho-Balkanides of eastern Serbia evidence the more or less near-simultaneous "explosive" first appearances of several genera of the Orbitolinidae in the late Berriasian. Most of the observed taxa were previously recorded from strata not older than the Late Hauterivian (= classical Urgonian of southeastern France), evidence that these ages refer to local first appearance data. The diversified assemblage from Serbia includes representatives of the subfamilies Dictyoconinae: genera Cribellopsis ARNAUD-VANNEAU, Montseciella CHERCHI & SCHROEDER, Orbitolinopsis HENSON, Urgonina FOURY & MOULLADE, Valserina SCHROEDER & CONRAD, Vanneauina SCHLAGINTWEIT, and Dictyorbitolininae: genus Paracoskinolina MOULLADE. Representatives of the Orbitolininae (with complex embryo) have not been observed. They appeared later in the fossil record seemingly during the Late Hauterivian-early Barremian. All together 17 taxa are reported, of which three in open nomenclature. A new species is described as Cribellopsis sudari n. sp. The majority of the observed species display medium- to high-conical tests and a rather simple exoskeleton lacking horizontal partitions (rafters). The new data contradict a phylogenetic evolution of distinct genera displaying different internal test structures one after the other in time (= ancestor-descendant relationships) as postulated by some authors. The explosive radiation ("early burst") of the Orbitolinidae in the late Berriasian is accompanied by the first appearance date of several other large benthic foraminifera including mostly agglutinating (e.g., Ammocycloloculina, Choffatella, Drevennia, Eclusia, Moulladella, Pfenderina, Pseudotextulariella) but also complex porcelaneous taxa (Pavlovcevina) providing evidence for a bioevent in this time period that exceeds the number of taxa originating in the previous (Tithonian) and the following stage (Valanginian). The early evolutionary history of the Orbitolinidae can be considered a classical example of adaptive radiation within the clade's history.

The coral reef-dwelling Peneroplis spp. shows calcification resilience to ocean acidification conditions - results from culture experiments

<p>Ocean acidification is a consequence of current anthropogenic climate changes. The concomitant decrease in pH and carbonate ion concentration in sea water may have severe impacts on calcifying organisms. Coral reefs are among the first ecosystems recognized vulnerable to ocean acidification. Within coral reefs, large benthic foraminifera (LBF) are major calcium carbonate producers.</p><p>The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of varying pH on survival and calcification of the symbiont-bearing LBF species <em>Peneroplis</em> spp. We performed culture experiments to study their resistance to ocean acidification conditions, as well as their resilience once placed back under open ocean pH (7.9).</p><p>After three days, small signs of test decalcification were observed on specimens kept at pH 7.4, and severe test decalcification was observed on specimens kept at pH 6.9, with the inner organic lining clearly appearing. After 32 days under pH 7.4, similar strongly decalcified specimens were observed. All the specimens were alive at the end of the experiment. This result demonstrates the resistance of <em>Peneroplis </em>spp. to an acidified pH, at least on a short period of time.</p><p>After being partially decalcified, some of the living specimens were placed back at pH 7.9. After one month, the majority of the specimens showed recalcification features, mostly by addition of new chambers. The trace elements concentrations of the newly formed chambers were analysed by LA-ICPMS. Interestingly, more chambers were added when food was given, which highlights the crucial role of energy source in the recalcification process. Moreover, the newly formed chambers were most of the time abnormal, and the general structure of the tests was altered, with potential impacts on reproduction and in situ survival. In conclusion, if symbiont-bearing LBF show some resistance and resilience to lowered pH conditions, they will remain strongly affected by ocean acidification.</p>

Divergent Proteomic Responses Offer Insights Into Resistant Physiological Responses of a Reef-Foraminifera to Climate Change Scenarios

Reef-dwelling calcifiers face numerous environmental stresses associated with anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions, including ocean acidification and warming. Photosymbiont-bearing calcifiers, such as large benthic foraminifera, are particularly sensitive. To gain insight into their resistance and adaptive mechanisms to climate change, Amphistegina lobifera from the Gulf of Aqaba were cultured under elevated pCO2 (492, 963, and 3182 ppm) fully-crossed with elevated temperature (28°C and 31°C) for two months. Differential protein abundances in host and photosymbionts amongst treatments were investigated alongside physiological responses and microenvironmental pH variations. Over 1000 proteins were identified, of which one-third varied significantly between treatments. Thermal stress induced protein depletions, along with reduced holobiont growth. Elevated pCO2 caused only minor proteomic alterations and color changes. However, combined stressors reduced pore sizes and increased microenvironmental pH, indicating adaptive modifications to gas exchange. Notably, substantial proteomic variations at moderate-pCO2 and 31°C indicate cellular stress, while stable physiological performance at high-pCO2 and 31°C is scrutinized by putative decreases in test stability. Our experiment shows that the effects of climate change can be missed when stressors are assessed in isolation, and that physiological responses should be assessed across organismal levels to make more realistic predictions for the fate of reef calcifiers.

Carbonic anhydrase is involved in calcification by the benthic foraminifer <i>Amphistegina lessonii</i>

Marine calcification is an important component of the global carbon cycle. The mechanism by which some organisms take up inorganic carbon for the production of their shells or skeletons, however, remains only partly known. Although foraminifera are responsible for a large part of the global calcium carbonate production, the process by which they concentrate inorganic carbon is debated. Some evidence suggests that seawater is taken up by vacuolization and participates relatively unaltered in the process of calcification, whereas other results suggest the involvement of transmembrane transport and the activity of enzymes like carbonic anhydrase. Here, we tested whether inorganic-carbon uptake relies on the activity of carbonic anhydrase using incubation experiments with the perforate, large benthic, symbiont-bearing foraminifer Amphistegina lessonii. Calcification rates, determined by the alkalinity anomaly method, showed that inhibition of carbonic anhydrase by acetazolamide (AZ) stopped most of the calcification process. Inhibition of photosynthesis either by 3-(3,4-Dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) or by incubating the foraminifera in the dark also decreased calcification rates but to a lesser degree than with AZ. Results from this study show that carbonic anhydrase plays a key role in biomineralization of Amphistegina lessonii and indicates that calcification of those perforate, large benthic foraminifera might, to a certain extent, benefit from the extra dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), which causes ocean acidification.