Impacts of elevated carbon dioxide on marine ecosystems depend on physiological responses to consequential decreased pH and increased temperature. Responses to these environmental factors vary among species and life stages, and interactive effects can be significant. To study effects of decreased pH and increased temperature on juvenile red king crab (RKC, Paralithodes camtschaticus) we exposed individuals to three levels of temperature: 11 degrees Celsius (ambient), 13 degrees Celsius, and 14 degrees Celsius, crossed with three levels of pH: 8.0, 7.8 and 7.5, for a total of nine treatments. To better understand the effect of these environmental changes at the level of genome regulation, we analyzed total RNA of whole crabs using Illumina-based RNA-seq whole-transcriptome sequencing. We assembled a RKC transcriptome using Trinity, annotated the transcriptome using Trinotate, and estimated expression levels using bowtie2, samtools and eXpress. Differentially expressed genes were identified using EdgeR. Genes were clustered by expression patterns. Interactive effects were determined by comparing sets of differentially expressed genes using three statistical models to examine the effect of temperature, the effect of pH, and the interaction between temperature and pH in EdgeR. The largest set of differentially expressed genes encoded proteins involved in regulation of extracellular and cuticular structures, including chitin-binding and calcification related proteins.

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 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.

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.

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 includes observations of how CO2-driven acidification affected the growth and survival of juvenile blue king crab (Paralithodes platypus.), an important fishery species in Alaska. 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 one year 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., Van Sant, S. B., Swiney, K. M., and Foy, R. 2017. Survival, growth, and morphology of blue king crabs: Effect of ocean acidification decreases with exposure time. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 74: 1033-1041, https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsw197.

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.

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 dataset contains model output data that were collected to examine the impact of ocean acidification on fishery yields and profits of red king crab in Bristol Bay. A stage-structured pre-recruit model was developed to capture hypotheses regarding the impact of ocean acidification on the survival of pre-recruit crab. The model was parameterized using life history and survival data for red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) derived from experiments conducted at the National Marine Fisheries Service Kodiak laboratory. A parameterized pre-recruit model was linked to a post-recruit population dynamics model for adult male red king crab in Bristol Bay, Alaska that included commercial fishery harvest. This coupled population dynamics model was integrated with a bioeconomic model of commercial fishing sector profits to forecast how the impacts of ocean acidification on the survival of pre-recruit red king crab will affect yields and profits for the Bristol Bay red king crab fishery fora scenario that includes future ocean pH levels predictions. Expected yields and profits were projected to decline over the next 50-100 years in this scenario given reductions in pre-recruit survival due to decreasing ocean pH levels over time. The target fishing mortality used to provide management advice based on the current harvest policy for Bristol Bay red king crab also declined over time in response to declining survival rates. However, the impacts of ocean acidification due to reduced pre-recruit survival on yield and profits are likely to be limited for the next 10-20 years, and its effects will likely be masked by natural variation in pre-recruit survival. This analysis is an initial step toward a fully integrated under-standing of the impact of ocean acidification on fishery yields and profits, and could be used to focus future research efforts.