Change in the shell of Antarctic clams Laternula elliptica from 1993 to 2010 in response to ocean acidification

초록

Carbon dioxide emitted by human activities decreases pH of the ocean called as ocean acidification by being absorbed and dissolved in the ocean. This phenomenon appears to be more extreme in the Polar regions including Antarctica. In order to investigate if ocean acidification influence the Antarctic clams Laternula elliptica in Antarctica, change from during 1993 ~ 2010, degree of corrosion of the shells and composition were measured using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD). The degree of corrosion of the shell (white pixels / total pixels ratio) increased from 1993 to 2010. The composition ratio of XRD samples changed as the aragonite ratio decreased from 1993 to 2010. Given these results, ocean acidification can negatively influence the population of L. elliptica.