Microhardness of the claw was 38% lower in crabs at pH 7.5 compared with those at pH 8.1, but carapace microhardness was unaffected by pH. Reduced pH led to a suite of body region-specific effects on the exoskeleton. Crabs were exposed to one of three pH levels – 8.1, 7.8 or 7.5 – for 2 years. We investigated the effects of acidification on the exoskeleton of mature (post-terminal-molt) female southern Tanner crabs, Chionoecetes bairdi. In decapod crustaceans, the exoskeleton is a multilayered structure composed of chitin, protein and mineral, predominately magnesian calcite or amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC). Ocean acidification can affect the ability of calcifying organisms to build and maintain mineralized tissue.
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