Predator–prey interaction between muricid gastropods and mussels under ocean acidification

Predation of the muricid gastropod Thais clavigera on two-sized groups of the mussel Brachidontes variabilis was studied under three pCO₂ levels, 380, 950, and 1250 μatm. At 950 μatm pCO₂ level, the prey handling time decreased significantly and large-sized B. variabilis were preferred by T. clavigera. However, the prey consumption rate was independent of pCO₂ levels, although the prey searching time increased significantly at elevated pCO₂. These findings indicated that the predator–prey interaction between T. clavigera and B. variabilis was altered under ocean acidification, which will have a long-term impact on the population dynamics of the interacting species.