Effect of Ocean acidification upon ability to genetically adapt in Nereis species - Essay Example

EFFECT OF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ON GENETIC ADAPTATION OF NEREIS SPECIES By School Location The rise of atmospheric CO2 in the recent years has caused a drastic reduction in the ocean water pH value. This is because the ocean water absorbs the CO2 and forms carbonic acid. This causes an increase in H+ ions thus reducing pH value. This increase in pH affects the ocean’s ecosystems and therefore the oceans’ species have to adapt to the increasing acidity. The species adapt either phenotypically or genotypically to their new environment.

IntroductionHigh levels of CO2 in the atmosphere result in increased uptake of CO2 by ocean water thus decreasing its pH. This change affects the small marine organisms the most. The decrease in pH affects their physiological processes mainly their metabolic rates and oxygen intake processes. Calcifying species are also affected due to the decrease in CO32- ions, which are used in forming CaCO3. Due to these effects, the species have to adapt to these changes in order to counter the negative effects on their physiology.

These changes may be phenotypic for short term or genotypic for long term. This paper investigates the effect of ocean acidity on the genetic makeup of the Nereis species (Australian Biological Resources Study, 2000, p.45).Research Hypothesis Due to the increase in the ocean water acidity, the marine species have adapted to the change in pH. All the specimens have the same gene expression alterations when exposed to low pH. All the species experience phenotype plasticity when exposed to low pH levels.

These effects can be determined by scientific methods. Species from the low pH region of Ischia have adapted to low pH (Armstrong, A. 2013, p593). Materials and methods Six marine species were picked for the research namely; Polychaetes, Nerissuccinea, Nereisdiversicolor, Nereisvirens, Platyneiresdemerilli and Nereiszonata. The worms were collected from different areas. Some samples were from Ischia region, a place with low pH value due to CO2 vents. These samples were exposed to low pH value environments for short time and long-term durations.

The control group was set in normal pH environment. Conclusion and Justification The pH value affects energy production processes in the specimens. With differences in pH, the individuals of the Nereis genus undergo some changes in energy production. The samples from the regions of low pH show the least changes, having adapted to low pH levels. All the specimens are affected by extremely low pH levels but the specimens from the vents show the most resilience since they have already adapted to low pH environs.

This is because their metabolic activity is always heightened. The responses observed after the research may have been due to a result of gene adaptations (Bartels-Hardege, H. D. & Zeeck, E. 1990, p.410). It is a fact that organisms may have the ability to change their physiology through phenotypic plasticity also known as acclimatization. The physiological processes of maintaining internal pH and temperature and the adaptation of these processes is determined by gene expression. Species from low pH regions showed better adaptation to extremely low pH levels.

This proves that ocean acidification has directly affected gene expressions in the Nereis species and thus their genetic makeup has been altered. List of ReferencesArmstrong, A., 2013. Ocean science: Acidification and acclimation. Nature Geoscience, 6(8), pp.590-595.Australian Biological Resources Study., 2000. Polychaetes & Allies: The Southern Synthesis. Melbourne: Csiro Publishing.Bartels-Hardege, H. D. & Zeeck, E., 1990. Reproductive behaviour of Nereis diversicolor(Annelida: Polychaeta).

Marine Biology, 106(3), pp. 409-412.