Tanner Crab Immune Cell Response to Ocean Acidification

Laboratory experiment data from 2011-2013 measures the impact of simulated ocean acidification on the immune cells (hemocytes) of Alaskan Tanner crabs (Chionoecetes bairdi). Flow cytometry was used to analyze cell death, phagocytosis, and intracellular pH across three pH treatments (8.06, 7.80, 7.51) over two years. Results indicate increased hemocyte death and altered intracellular pH regulation under acidified conditions, suggesting potential impacts on crab immune health.

Use Cases

• Analyzing the relationship between external pH and hemocyte intracellular pH (pHi) in different cell types.
• Comparing rates of hemocyte death (apoptosis) and phagocytic activity across acidification treatments.
• Assessing the resilience of Tanner crab immune systems to predicted future ocean conditions.
• Correlating specific ocean acidification scenarios (pH 7.51, 7.80) with cellular-level stress responses.

Strengths

• Data is derived from a controlled two-year laboratory experiment with explicit pH treatment levels (8.06, 7.80, 7.51).
• Includes specific quantitative findings, such as mean intracellular pH values for control (8.27) and low-pH treatment (7.73) groups.
• Dataset is archived on multiple platforms (NASA Earthdata, Data.gov), indicating recognized scientific value.

Limitations

• Column names and data structure are not provided in any source, hindering precise understanding of the dataset's organization.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates exist (2013-07 06 and 2026-03-05), creating uncertainty about versioning.
• No information on sample size (row count), file size, license, or author is available.

Provenance

Source

NOAA_NCEI (as indicated on NASA Earthdata)

Collection Method

Laboratory experiment using flow cytometry on crab hemocytes.

Time Range

2011-07-01 to 2013-07-06

Freshness

2026-03-05 23:11:58.860266

Geography

Gulf of Alaska, North Pacific Ocean (study pertains to Alaskan crab species)