This dataset contains data from a two-part experiment described in the paper: Transgenerational plasticity responses of oysters to ocean acidification differ with habitat, J Exp Biol jeb.239269.

This paper assessed the role of tidal habitat on the existing and transgenerational response of larvae of the Sydney rock oyster, Saccostrea glomerata to ocean acidification caused by elevated carbon dioxide (CO₂).

In experiment 1, gravid Sydney rock oysters were collected from the subtidal and high intertidal zone and brought into the hatchery. Their gametes were collected and fertilized and the size of eggs, shell length of D-veliger larvae, percentage of D-veliger larvae, and percentage of D-veliger larvae that were abnormal, was determined after 48 hours of exposure to ambient (400 µatm) and elevated (1000 µatm) CO₂.

In experiment 2, non-gravid adult Sydney rock oysters were collected from the subtidal and high intertidal zone and brought into the hatchery. Adults were conditioned in the hatchery under two different tidal cycles (subtidal and intertidal) and two different CO₂ treatments (ambient or elevated) until reaching gravid stage. Gametes from gravid adults were collected and fertilized, and the size of eggs, shell length of D-veliger larvae, percentage of D-veliger larvae, percentage of D-veliger larvae that were abnormal, and respiration rate of larvae was determined after 48 hours of exposure to ambient and elevated CO₂.

Main results of the experiment were that larvae from parents conditioned in an intertidal habitat had a greater existing tolerance to elevated CO₂ than larvae from parents conditioned in a subtidal habitat but had a lower capacity for beneficial transgenerational plasticity following adult exposure to elevated CO₂.      

Details of how the measurements were taken can be found in the methods section of the associated manuscript that is referenced above.

The ReadMe file describes the variables that were measured and the measurement units that were used.