Auswirkungen der Ozeanversauerung auf die große Seespinne Hyas araneus : Molekulare Mechanismen und Plastizität

Ocean acidification and warming in the worlds ocean as a consequence of climate change and the possible adverse impacts on marine organisms recently have moved more and more into the focus of scientific research. However, while many physiological and ecological impacts have been already identified, influences on the molecular mechanisms, shaping the physiological phenotype and consequently the limits of the compensatory capacities of an organism, are still unclear. Here, we combined different comprehensive gene and protein expression analysis to identify the regulatory mechanisms and processes in the great spider crab Hyas araneus treated with different experimental conditions (PCO2: 390, 1120 and 1960 µatm; Temp: 5 °C, 10 °C and 10 °C, 16 °C, respectively) The present thesis indicates a limited ability of the stenoecious crustacean H. araneus to compensate for the effects of ocean acidification with and without concomitant warming. The limited compensatory capacities and the possibly resulting reduced fitness of this or similar osmoconform crustaceans could have far reaching consequences for the biogeographic distribution and the inhabited ecosystems.