Experimental mining plumes and ocean warming trigger stress in a deep pelagic jellyfish

Vanessa I. Stenvers (), Helena Hauss, Till Bayer, Charlotte Havermans, Ute Hentschel, Lara Schmittmann, Andrew K. Sweetman and Henk-Jan T. Hoving
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Vanessa I. Stenvers: GEOMAR, Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Helena Hauss: GEOMAR, Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Till Bayer: GEOMAR, Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Charlotte Havermans: HYIG ARJEL, Functional Ecology, Alfred Wegner Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
Ute Hentschel: GEOMAR, Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Lara Schmittmann: GEOMAR, Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Andrew K. Sweetman: Seafloor Ecology and Biogeochemistry Research Group, Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS)
Henk-Jan T. Hoving: GEOMAR, Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract The deep pelagic ocean is increasingly subjected to human-induced environmental change. While pelagic animals provide important ecosystem functions including climate regulation, species-specific responses to stressors remain poorly documented. Here, we investigate the effects of simulated ocean warming and sediment plumes on the cosmopolitan deep-sea jellyfish Periphylla periphylla, combining insights gained from physiology, gene expression and changes in associated microbiota. Metabolic demand was elevated following a 4 °C rise in temperature, promoting genes related to innate immunity but suppressing aerobic respiration. Suspended sediment plumes provoked the most acute and energetically costly response through the production of excess mucus (at ≥17 mg L−1), while inducing genes related to aerobic respiration and wound repair (at ≥167 mg L−1). Microbial symbionts appeared to be unaffected by both stressors, with mucus production maintaining microbial community composition. If these responses are representative for other gelatinous fauna, an abundant component of pelagic ecosystems, the effects of planned exploitation of seafloor resources may impair deep pelagic biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43023-6

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