Experiment on effects of elevated pCO2 on bivalve dominated communities

Sandy communities were exposed to six different seawater pCO2 regimes for a total of three months (17.12.2011–06.03.2012) in a climate - controlled room. Six header tanks were continuously supplied with filtered seawater from Kiel Fjord, each one connected to six experimental units (EU) ensuring continuous seawater supply. Each EU consisted of a round plastic container with a volume of 12.5 L containing ca. 9.5 L of sediment and an overlying water column of ca. 3 L. The lower 10 cm of the sediment consisted of sieved sand taken from a local beach (Kiel, Falckenstein: 54°23,66 N; 10°11.56 E) while the upper 10 cm consisted of surface sediment from the station at which the experimental animals were sampled to resemble natural conditions as well as to provide naturally occurring microbial and meiofauna communities. Bivalves and sediment were sampled in Kiel Fjord at Falckenstein with a Van Veen grab in 1–2 m depth and kept in holding basins at 9 °C before being placed in EUs. […]