Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 13.1
Summary of marine food-supplying organisms, their ecosystem role, contribution to the global food supply, signii cance as a food source, and reported potential vulnerability to ocean acidii cation
Group
Ecosystem role
Contribution to
global seafood
supply (% of weight)
Signii cance as
food
Current understanding of
vulnerability to ocean
acidii cation
Relevant references
Molluscs: clams, scallops,
mussels, oysters,
pteropods, abalone, conchs
Mussels and oysters are important
ecosystem engineers and an
important food source for top
predators. Pteropods are
important food for salmon.
8% of global catch and
increasing in aquaculture
importance.
Valuable commercial
i sheries and of
local importance
as a direct protein
source in some
island states.
Locally important.
Some adults and juveniles (larval
stages) have shown reduced
calcii cation of shells, growth and
health.
Beesley et al. ( 2008 ); Berge et al.
( 2006 ); Bibby et al . ( 2008 ); Comeau
et al. ( 2009 ); Ellis et al. ( 2009 );
Gazeau et al. ( 2007 ); Green
et al. ( 2009 ); Kurihara et al. ( 2007
and 2009 ); Marshall et al. ( 2008 );
Michaelidis et al. ( 2005 ); Orr et al .
( 2005 ); Parker et al. ( 2009 ); Ries
et al. ( 2009 ); Talmage and Gobler
( 2009 ); Watson et al. ( 2009 ).
Echinoderms: sea urchins, sea
cucumbers, stari sh
Keystone species and food source
for i sh. Stari sh can be important
predators.
A small (0.1%) but valuable
percentage.
Valuable commercial
i sheries and
locally important
in some areas,
increasingly
regarded as a
'luxury' food item.
Few species studied, but all show
vulnerability in adult and/or juvenile
life stages, including egg fertilization
and development.
Dashi eld et al . ( 2008 ); Dupont et al .
( 2008 ); Gooding et al. ( 2009 );
Havenhand et al. ( 2008 ); Miles et
al. ( 2007 ); Sheppard Brennand et al.
( 2010 ); Wood et al. ( 2008 ).
Crustaceans: shrimp, prawn,
crabs, lobsters, copepods,
and their relatives
contributing to the
zooplankton
Copepods play a central role in food
webs. They feed on primary
producers (the phytoplankton) so
connecting them to larger parts
of the food web that feed on the
copepods which comprise a major
part of the zooplankton.
Zooplankton is a major direct food
source for many i sh and mammals.
7% of global consumption
and rising. Wild catch
and aquaculture species.
Valuable commercial
i sheries for some
species, especially
shrimp, prawn,
crab, and lobster.
Signii cant
i sheries.
Few species studied. Lobsters show
vulnerability at a juvenile life stage
and crab behaviour is affected,
although adult shell formation is
unaffected. Thermal tolerance of
spider crab and edible crab reduced
in high-CO
2
waters.
Arnold et al. ( 2009 ); Kurihara et al.
( 2004 ); Metzger et al. ( 2007 ); Pane
and Barry ( 2007 ); Ries et al. ( 2009 );
Spicer et al. ( 2007 ); Walther et al.
( 2009 ).
(continued )
