Effects of metals in sediment under acidification and temperature rise scenarios on reproduction of the copepod Nitokra sp.

The potential effects of trace metal pollution in sediment under scenarios of warming and CO-driven acidification on the fecundity of the copepod Nitokra sp. were assessed. Ovigerous females were exposed to laboratory-spiked sediments at two different concentrations of a mixture of metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, and Hg) and to the control (non-spiked sediments), in combinations of two pH (7.7 and 7.1) and two temperatures (25 °C and 27 °C). The results revealed that CO-driven acidification affected the fecundity of Nitokra sp. by interacting with temperature rise and metal contamination. While rising temperatures generally increased Nitokra sp. fecundity, when combined with metal addition and a CO acidified environment, warming led to a decline in offspring production. This is the first study with copepods to demonstrate the interactive effects of sediment contamination by metals, CO-driven acidification, and temperature increase. Preliminary experiments are required to understand the complex interactive effects of multiple drivers.