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Rising levels of C[O.sub.2] in the atmosphere have led to increased C[O.sub.2] concentrations in the oceans. This enhanced carbon availability to the marine primary producers has the potential to change their nutrient stoichiometry, and higher carbon-to-nutrient ratios are expected. As a result, the quality of the primary producers as food for herbivores may change. Here, we present experimental work showing the effect of feeding Rhodomonas salina grown under different pC[O.sub.2] (200, 400 and 800 µatm) on the copepod Acartia tonsa. The rate of development of copepodites decreased with increasing CO2 availability to the algae. The surplus carbon in the algae was excreted by the copepods, with younger stages (copepodites) excreting most of their surplus carbon through respiration and adult copepods excreting surplus carbon mostly as DOC. We consider the possible consequences of different excretory pathways for the ecosystem. A continued increase in the C[O.sub.2] availability for primary production, together with changes in the nutrient loading of coastal ecosystems, may cause changes in the trophic links between primary producers and herbivores., Introduction The increasing levels of C[O.sub.2] in the atmosphere have a direct effect on the world's oceans, which act as a major sink for anthropogenically increased C[O.sub.2] concentrations. The resulting [...]