Scientists determined "blue blood" could help an Antarctic octopus species survive in the face if climate change and warming waters.
The findings also revealed how the octopus is able to transport oxygen in its blood in the frigid waters it resides in, Biomed Central reported. The octopus is believed to have specialized pigments in its blood that help it sustain oxygen supply in its freezing environment.
Octopod shave three hearts and contractile veins that work to pump "haemolymph," which is extremely rich in the blue oxygen transport protein haemocyanin.
"This is the first study providing clear evidence that the octopods' blue blood pigment, haemocyanin, undergoes functional changes to improve the supply of oxygen to tissue at sub-zero temperatures. This is important because it highlights a very different response compared to Antarctic fish to the cold conditions in the Southern Ocean. The results also imply that due to improved oxygen supply by haemocyanin at higher temperatures, this octopod may be physiologically better equipped than Antarctic fishes to cope with global warming," said lead author Michael Oellermann from Alfred-Wegener-Institute.
To determine what makes this haemocyanin work in such cold water, the researchers took samples from the Antarctic octopod species Pareledone charcoti as well as two warmer-water species, the Australian Octopus pallidus and the Mediterranean Eledone moschat.
The team found the Antarctic species had the highest concentration of blood haemocyanin out of any known octopod species. They believe the high blood pigment levels concentrations in the "blue-blooded" octopus could be compensating for the haemocyanin's poor ability to release oxygen to tissues in extremely cold environments.
The researchers also found the Antarctic ocotopod's haemocyanin was more successful at transporting oxygen between the gills and tissue at slightly warmer temperatures, suggesting the species would still thrive if climate change influenced the water conditions.
The findings were published in a recent edition of the journal Frontiers in Zoology.
