Marine Biodiversity
Climate Change
Post-Doctoral Fellowships
United Kingdom
Predicting climate change risks for commercial fisheries and aquaculture using genetic and physiological approaches in early life stages of fish
Sound and Smell in an Acidified Ocean
Climate change is everywhere, its effects seen in the air, on land and in the sea. The increasing levels of carbon dioxide on Earth interact with seawater, making it more acidic. This change in water chemistry affects both organisms’ sense of smell—predator odors were even found to attract some fish—and the way sound travels through the water, causing low frequency sounds to travel farther. Both sounds and smells are key carriers of information for animals seeking to avoid predators, find food or identify a mate. Dr. Cosima Porteus wondered, then, how an increasingly acidic ocean would affect the behavior of one fish that is important for our food supply, the European sea bass. The consequences she observed could affect their survival.
First, she found that, in acidic seawater simulating predicted future conditions, their sense of smell was only half as sensitive and some odours had to be four times more concentrated to be detected by these fish. This means the bass would need to be much closer to the source of the smell before noticing, say, a predator closing in. Sea bass are also familiar with the sounds made by species that prey on them. Haddock, for example, make noise when communicating or looking for a mate. Though this might alert the bass to the presence of a predator, it should not affect their behavior much, since they can be sure the haddock isn’t hunting. That was true under today’s ocean conditions; however, in the acidic environment, Dr. Porteus found that juveniles became less active upon hearing haddock sounds. It is not yet clear how ocean acidification could lead sea bass to react in what looks like an overly cautious way. Nonetheless, the result could be less time spent on vital activities like finding food and mates. Dr. Porteus now aims to uncover what happens at the genetic level to create such behavior changes, all of which could become a matter of life or death for sea bass and other marine creatures that ecosystems, and we humans, rely on.
To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com
Ocean fish are under threat if we don’t curb carbon dioxide emissions
Discover an article about Cosima's project
ARTICLE Cosima
PORTEUS
Institution
University of Exeter
Country
United Kingdom
Nationality
Canadian
Related articles
Marine Biodiversity
Climate Change
Post-Doctoral Fellowship
Spain
Climate-Smart Strategies to Develop Resilience in Artisanal Fisheries of Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas
Determining the climate risk exposure of marine ecosystems is crucial to develop strategies that will strengthen communities’ resilience. Studies have... Read more
Marina
SANZ MARTíN
Spanish Institute of Oceanography
Marine Biodiversity
Food & Nutrition
Post-Doctoral Fellowship
United Kingdom
Integrating Aquaculture and Capture Fisheries to Combat Hunger in Sierra Leone and Other Parts of Africa
During her AXA Research Fund fellowship at the University of Leeds, Dr. Nwamaka Okeke-Ogbuafor will seek to unlock ocean-based solutions... Read more
Nwamaka
OKEKE OGBUAFOR
University of Leeds
Climate Change
City Resilience
AXA Award
United States
Centering Equity and Environmental Justice in the Context of Climate Adaptation
Watch the video and read his interview below: Tell us about yourself and the genesis of your interest in climate... Read more
Christian
BRANEON