the Ecco Project
Anthropogenic activities, such as fossil fuel combustion and deforestation, are responsible for the increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide, which in turn is absorbed by the oceans causing changes in seawater carbonate chemistry. Ocean acidification (low pH) decreases the calcium carbonate saturation states in seawater, thus inhibiting calcification rates in shell-forming marine organisms. Elevated carbon dioxide may have additional sublethal impacts on organismal, developmental and physiological levels and as a result can significantly suppress the abundance and diversity of species.
Four different experimental treatments are planned during the ECCO Project using a combination of low or ambient pH and increased or ambient temperature in order to investigate the long-term synergistic effects of those two factors on marine gastropods. An integrated multi-disciplinary approach is used to investigate morphological, physiological, behavioral, chemical and molecular responses of a selected gastropod species on a complementary basis. A long term experiment (one year) is scheduled in order to investigate the direct and indirect effects of low pH and increased temperature and also to reveal possible adaptations of the organisms. The methodology will include scanning of calcified structures with a micro-computed tomograph (micro-CT), advanced analysis of 3D models, Confocal Raman Microscopy for CaCO3 polymorphs and real-time PCR gene expression analysis.
New publication is out!
Micro-CT image gallery visually presenting the effects of ocean warming and acidification on marine gastropod shells. Eva Chatzinikolaou, Kleoniki Keklikoglou, Panagiotis Grigoriou, Christos Arvanitidis (2021)…
Project ECCO exhibition is on air again!
The ECCO exhibition is permanently displayed in the Multi-Purpose Events Hall named after the late CretAquarium Director Mr Michalis Papadakis. The opening event took place…
New publication from ECCO Project!
Check out: https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/71542/ Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is a high-resolution 3D-imaging technique which is now increasingly applied in biological studies focusing on taxonomy and functional morphology….
ECCO project at ECSA58-EMECS 13 Conference
The ECCO Project was presented online on 7/9/2021 in ECSA 58 – EMECS 13 Conference “Estuaries and coastal seas in the Anthropocene – Structure, functions,…
Micro-CT protocols now published!
The micro-CT protocols for scanning and 3D analysis of Hexaplex trunculus adults, juveniles and egg capsules have been published under https://www.protocols.io and have also received…
6th IPCC Assessment Report
The 6th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has been just released and can be downloaded here. A 39-page summary for…
ECCO project exhibition in Cretaquarium – Summer 2021
The ECCO Project is currently presented in an exhibition that takes place at Cretaquarium (Heraklion, Crete, Greece). An interactive touch screen has been set up…
Scientific article of ECCO at Frontiers in Marine Science
The scientific article “Morphological Properties of Gastropod Shells in a Warmer and More Acidic Future Ocean Using 3D Micro-Computed Tomography” has just been published by…
Article in PATRIS for climate change and ocean acidification
Dr Eva Chatzinikolaou has published an article in newspaper PATRIS “The global bet is to save the environment”. The effects of climate change and ocean…
Article for ECCO project in BHMA newspaper
Climate change in the marine environment – Article in BHMA newspaper for the project ECCO by Dr Eva Chatzinikolaou. You can read the full article…
