Zoom: https://usc.zoom.us/j/97376862857?pwd=MC9BK0FRYjU4R29jd2FGUStrR0hadz09

Frank Melzner, Geomar

Using the Baltic Sea as a test bed to understand marine invertebrate adaptation to climate change

Abstract: In my presentation, I will introduce the particular abiotic variability of the Baltic Sea, a system that is naturally exposed to very strong variation in carbon dioxide partial pressure (with regular occurence of 3,000 µatm in summer), salinity and temperature variation. I will then show data showing that local mussel (Mytilus) populations have adapted to such high carbonate chemistry variation and point at physiological mechanisms that probably enable high CO2 tolerance. I will then focus on the main mussel predator, the sea star Asterias, and how it is impacted by heat waves. Here I will show that massive heat wave mortality is driven by oxygen diffucion limiation. Finally, I will give an outlook to recent and ongoing work to study physiology, evolution and ecology of benthic communities in near-realistic mesocosm environments.