Multiple stressor studies are needed to better understand the effects of oceanic changes on marine organisms. To determine the effects of near-future ocean acidification and warming temperature on young of the year red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) survival, growth, and morphology, we conducted a long-term (184 d) fully crossed experiment with two pHs and three temperatures: ambient pH (~7.99), pH 7.8, ambient temperature, ambient +2 degrees Celsius, and ambient +4 degrees Celsius, for a total of 6 treatments. Mortality rate increased with both reduced pH and by higher temperatures, but interpretation of the multistressor effects is not straightforward as a clear trend was not observed. A synergetic effect was observed; the pH 7.8 and ambient +4 degrees Celsius temperature treatment had the lowest survival, with only 3% surviving to the end of the experiment. However, antagonistic effects were observed in the pH 7.8 ambient +2 degrees Celsius temperature treatment; the mortality rate in this treatment was less than the mortality rate of each of the stressors individually. Despite the effects on mortality, neither decreased pH nor increased temperature had an effect on growth or morphology. The results of this study combined with other studies suggest that ocean acidification and warming may have profound negative effects on red king crab populations in the upcoming decades unless the species is able to quickly adapt or acclimate to changing conditions.

This dataset contains a laboratory experiment study with the goal of understanding the effects of ocean acidification on the embryos and larvae of red king crab, Paralithodes camtschaticus. The effects of the decline in ocean pH, known as ocean acidification, on marine species are not well understood. To test the effects on embryos and larvae of red king crab, Paralithodes camtschaticus, ovigerous crab and their larvae were held in CO2-acidified (pH 7.7) and control (ambient; pH 8.0) seawater during development. Morphometrics, hatch duration, fecundity, survival, mineral content, and condition were measured. Acidified embryos had 4% larger eyes and 5% smaller yolks, while mean hatch duration was 33% longer and female fecundity was unaffected. Acidified embryos also resulted in 4% longer larvae while acidified larvae had lower survival. Calcium content of both larvae and female carapaces after molting increased by 5% and 19%, respectively. Although ocean acidification may increase larval size and calcium content, the implications of this are unclear and decreased survival is likely to harm red king crab populations.

This is data from a laboratory experiment in which red and blue king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus and P. platypus) juveniles were held at three different pH levels (ambient, pH 7.8, and pH 7.5). Growth, survival, feeding and respiration were recorded. The complete methods, which should be read and understood prior to using this data are published as: Long, W.C., Pruisner, P., Swiney, K.M., and Foy, R. 2019. Effects of ocean acidification on respiration, feeding, and growth of juvenile red and blue king crabs (Paralithodes camtschaticus and P. platypus). ICES J. Mar. Sci. 76(5): 1335-1343. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsz090.

Juvenile red and blue king crabs (Paralithodes camtschaticus and P. platypus) were exposed to three pH levels: ambient (pH 8.1), pH 7.8, and pH 7.5 for three weeks. Oxygen consumption and feeding ration were determined immediately after exposure to treatment water and after three weeks exposure. Growth can be calculated from the wet mass observations.

This is data from a laboratory experiment in which mature female Tanner crabs were held at three different pHs (ambient, pH 7.8, and pH 7.5) for approximately two years. The laboratory exposure started on 2011-06-21 and ended on 2013-07-14. At the end of the exposure period samples of both the exoskeleton and claw were taken. Exoskeleton mechanical and elemental properties were analyzed in both the carapace and the claw. This dataset includes only the data from the cuticle analysis. The results of this work are published as: Dickenson, G.H., Bejerano, S., Salvador, T., Makdisi, C., Patel, S., Long, W.C., Swiney, K.M., Foy, R.J., Steffel, B.V., Smith, K.E., and Aaronson, R.B. 2021. Ocean acidification alters exoskeleton properties in adult Tanner crabs, Chionoecetes baridi. J. Exp. Biol. 224: jeb232819. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.232819.

Multiple stressor studies are needed to better understand the effects of oceanic changes on marine organisms. To determine the effects of near-future ocean acidification and warming temperature on juvenile red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) survival, growth, and morphology, we conducted a long-term (184 d) fully crossed experiment with two pHs and three temperatures: ambient pH (~7.99), pH 7.8, ambient temperature, ambient +2 degree C, and ambient +4 degree C, for a total of 6 treatments.

This data set is the results of a laboratory experiment. Juvenile red king crab and Tanner crab were reared in individual containers for nearly 200 days in flowing control (pH 8.0), pH 7.8, and pH 7.5 seawater at ambient temperatures (range 4.4-11.9 C). Survival, growth, and morphology were measured throughout the experiment. At the end of the experiment, calcium concentration was measured in each crab and the dry mass and condition index of each crab were determined.

In this study, we examined how CO2-driven acidification affected the growth and survival of juvenile golden king crab (Lithodes aequispinus), an important fishery species in Alaska. Juveniles were reared from larvae in surface ambient pH seawater at the Kodiak Laboratory. Newly molted early benthic instar crabs were randomly assigned to one of three pH treatments: (1) surface ambient pH ~ 8.2, (2) likely in situ ambient pH 7.8, and (3) pH 7.5. Thirty crabs were held in individual inserts in each treatment for 127 days and checked daily for molting or death. The complete methods, which should be read and understood prior to using this data, are published as: Long, W. C., Swiney, K. M., & Foy, R. J. (2021). Effects of ocean acidification on young of the year golden king crab (Lithodes aequispinus) survival and growth. Marine Biology, 168(8), 126. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-021-03930-y.

This is data from a laboratory experiment in which snow crab juveniles were held at three different pHs (ambient, pH 7.8, and pH 7.5). Growth, survival, and morphology were recorded. The complete methods, which should be read and understood prior to using this data, are under review as: Long, W.C. (In Review). Ocean acidification reduces juvenile snow crab, Chionoecetes opilio, survival but does not affect growth or morphometrics.

This dataset contains model output data to understand the effect of ocean acidification on southern Tanner Crab. Maximum sustainable yield (MSY), maximum economic yield (MEY), spawning biomass corresponding to MSY and MEY, and fishing mortality rates associated with MSY (including MSY proxy of F35%) and MEY, were computed for the southern Tanner crab stock in the Eastern Bering Sea in scenarios with, and without, effects of ocean acidification over the next century. A comparison of computed values provides an estimate of the cumulative effects of ocean acidification. Results include the case when ocean acidification affects juvenile and adult crab, and when ocean ocean acidification affects only hatching success and larval survival. These results indicate that bioeconomic reference points for southern Tanner crab are most sensitive to effects of ocean acidification on juvenile crab.