The copepod Acartia spinicauda feeds less and dies more under the influences of solar ultraviolet radiation and elevated pCO2

Abstract

While solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is known to impact zooplankton, little has been documented on its impacts under elevated pCO₂. Here, we show that exposure to UVR decreased the feeding and survival rates of the copepod Acartia spinicauda, that artificial UV-B of 2.25 W·m⁻² for 4 h resulted in a 52 % inhibition of its grazing rates and a 45 % reduction in survival rates compared to visible light alone. On the other hand, an increase in pCO₂ to 1000 μatm (pH drop of 0.4) immediately and significantly increased the UVR-induced inhibition of feeding. Subsequently, the combination of the high pCO₂ (1000 μatm) and UVR resulted in about 65 % lethal impact, with UV-A contributing 21 % and UV-B 44 % compared to the visible light alone and ambient pCO₂ conditions. While the copepod was shown to be able to sense and escape from UV-exposed areas, these findings suggest that UVR impacts on the copepod can be exacerbated with progressive ocean acidification or in high CO₂ waters, including upwelled regions.