By: Lisa Jones
The earth’s atmospheric temperature is increasing due to the effects of global warming. Global warming is a phenomenon that is caused by greenhouse emissions being trapped in the earth atmosphere increasing the temperature. Temperature is a factor that plays a role in a variety of species performance and survival capabilities. An increase in temperature in aquatic systems affects fish’s ability to intake oxygen. Rising temperature will change the biodiversity in aquatic communities. This will result in a decline of certain species of fish that are not able to adapt to its new ecosystem. With an estimated increase three degrees Celsius within the hundred years it has been increasingly important to understand tropical marine life response to temperature increase.
A study conducted on Heron Island and Lizard Island during the hottest months by Nilsson had suggested that cooler southern populations of fish had better responses to an increase in temperature. The difference in the response to temperature is accounted for by the fish’s local adaptations such as cardiac output, area of surface that intakes oxygen, the amount of oxygen blood can carry, and the rate in which oxygen is moved from the blood to the muscle. Although the response of cardinalfish and damselfish where better in southern population it was found that both had a increase in mortality after a certain increase in temperature approximately four degrees.
This research will help predict change in aquatic life due to global warming. Being able to predict how a fish’s ability to perform necessary functions needed for survival will help aid us in the conservation of reef marine life. Nilsson has provided information in which explains how some reef fish are able to adapt to an increase in demand for oxygen, in which of includes metabolic systems and the factor that are contributed by the surroundings.
References:
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0013299
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