Preliminary Study of the Effects of CO2 on the Survival and Gowth of Olive Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) Juveniles

As a result of human industrial development, carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) is currently accumulating in the atmosphere and dissolving into the oceans. Sequestration into the deep sea has been proposed as a possible solution to this increasing atmospheric $CO_2$, although the impact of such a program on marine ecosystems is unknown. We examined the effects of increased $CO_2$ levels on the growth of the olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. Juvenile olive flounder 40 days post hatching were exposed to two levels of $CO_2$ (3.60-7.55 and 4.05-11.46 kPa) in running seawater for 26 days. During the exposure period, the pH and $CO_2$ levels of the water were measured, and the numbers of dead individuals were counted in each aquarium. Following the exposure period, the total lengths (mm) and body weights (mg) of the juvenile fish were measured. Both $CO_2$ treatments significantly increased fish mortality compared to controls ($19.87\pm4.53%$ vs. 7.14% and $75.96\pm1.36%$ vs. 7.14% for high and low doses, respectively). After the high $CO_2$ treatment, total length ($14.98\pm6.58$ mm vs. $19.52\pm1.83$ mm) and body weight ($28.92\pm13.85$ mg vs. $67.35\pm18.32$ mg) of the exposed flounder were reduced compared to the control fish; however, no significant differences in these values were observed after the low $CO_2$ dose. These results suggested that $CO_2$ exposure inhibits growth in the juvenile stage and that $CO_2$-enriched seawater is toxic in the early life stages of olive flounder.