Meeting Abstract
As the climate changes the ocean absorbs approximately 30% of the excess heat and carbon dioxide, resulting in a global ocean warming and acidification. These conditions strongly impact calcification and acid-base regulation in diverse marine invertebrates, but their effects on immune function have not been well studied. Some studies suggest these conditions may negatively affect immune function in bivalves and echinoderms, but similar studies on cephalopods are yet to be done. I measured the change in four immunological parameters in Octopus rubescens following three weeks in one of four treatments. Results indicate that future climate conditions may elicit slight changes in immune function, but that O. rubescens generally maintains regular immune function. This may suggest that this species prioritizes immune function when in suboptimal conditions.
