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°09′48.9"N 122°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.
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