Plastic response of the oyster Ostrea chilensis to temperature and pCO.sub.2 within the present natural range of variability

Estuaries are characterized by high fluctuation of their environmental conditions. Environmental parameters measured show that the seawater properties of the Quempillén estuary (i.e. temperature, salinity, pCO.sub.2, pH and [OMEGA]CaCO.sub.3) were highly fluctuating and related with season and tide. We test the effects of increasing temperature and pCO.sub.2 in the seawater on the physiological energetics of the bivalve Ostrea chilensis. Juvenile oysters were exposed to an orthogonal combination of three temperatures (10, 15, and 20°C) and two pCO.sub.2 levels (~400 and ~1000 [mu]atm) for a period of 60 days to evaluate the temporal effect (i.e. 10, 20, 30, 60 days) on the physiological rates of the oysters. Results indicated a significant effect of temperature and time of exposure on the clearance rate, while pCO.sub.2 and the interaction between pCO.sub.2 and the other factors studied did not show significant effects. Significant effects of temperature and time of exposure were also observed on the absorption rate, but not the pCO.sub.2 nor its interaction with other factors studied. Oxygen consumption was significantly affected by pCO.sub.2, temperature and time. Scope for growth was only significantly affected by time; despite this, the highest values were observed for individuals subject to to 20°C and to ~1000 [mu]atm pCO.sub.2 . In this study, Ostrea chilensis showed high phenotypic plasticity to respond to the high levels of temperature and pCO.sub.2 experienced in its habitat as no negative physiological effects were observed. Thus, the highly variable conditions of this organism's environment could select for individuals that are more resistant to future scenarios of climate change, mainly to warming and acidification.