Article 2
Effect of elevated pCO2 on biofilm – herbivore trophic interactions: preliminary investigation through a stable isotope experiment
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ABSTRACT. – This study aimed to evaluate experimentally the effect of high pCO2/low pH on a simple biotic assemblage including grazer molluscs (Patella ulyssiponensis and Gibbula umbilicalis) and the biofilm as food source through the use of δ13C and δ15N. Organisms were exposed for 3 months at ambient (400 μatm) and elevated (1120 μatm) pCO2. A pronounced δ13C decrease of Gibbula umbilicalis was pointed out when exposed to high pCO2 while the biofilm did not show any isotopic deviation between both treatments. From these results (1) high pCO2 may affect the qualitative and/or quantitative characteristics of biofilm-herbivore trophic link (2) coexisting gastropods can respond differently in term of feeding activity and/or assimilated food source when submitted to higher pCO2.