Elevated immune response in Octopusrubescens under ocean acidification and warming conditions

To study the effects of ocean warming and acidification on the immune response of octopuses, 24 Octopus rubescens were collected from Driftwood Park, Washington (48 degrees 09 ' 48.9"N 122 degrees 38 ' 14.1"W) April-July 2018. Following 3 weeks in elevated pCO(2), elevated temperature, or the combination thereof, immunological parameters were measured including total hemocyte count, phagocytosis activity, superoxide production, and lysozyme activity. Increased pCO(2) elicited an increase in the number of circulating hemocytes, which are responsible for the cellular immune response, indicating a stress response. As a result, total phagocytosis also increased. This is the first study examining the effects of climate change on the immune system of cephalopods.