Ocean Warming Amplifies the Effects of Ocean Acidification on Skeletal Mineralogy and Microstructure in the Asterinid Starfish Aquilonastra yairi

Ocean acidification and ocean warming compromise the capacity of calcifying marine organisms to generate maintain their skeletons. While many precipitate low-Mg calcite or aragonite, skeleton echinoderms consists more soluble Mg-calcite. To assess impact exposure elevated temperature increased pCO2 on echinoderms, in particular mineralogy microstructure, starfish Aquilonastra yairi (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) was exposed for 90 days simulated (27 °C 32 °C) (455 µatm, 1052 2066 µatm) conditions. The results indicate that is major factor controlling skeletal Mg (Mg/Ca ratio Mgnorm ratio), but not Sr (Sr/Ca Srnorm ratio) Ca (Canorm A. yairi. Nevertheless, inter-individual variability ratios with higher temperature. Elevated did induce any statistically significant element alterations all treatments over incubation time, concentrations might possess an indirect effect mineral alteration. influence relevant than microstructures. as a sole stressor caused stereom structure degradation yairi, whereas not; however, skeletons high show strongly altered compared ambient These exacerbate maintaining mechanisms environment could potentially modify morphology functions skeleton.