Reef Fish Might Adapt to Warmer Seas, Study Finds

News Release

Contact: Dominique Otiepka

Reef Fish Inherit Tolerance to Warming Oceans

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – Coral reef research scientists released new information on April 30^t that a study found the offspring of reef fish whose parents were exposed to increased water temperatures have improved performance in stressful conditions.

ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies located in Canberra, Australia, contributes to coral reef science research and marine studies to develop new information regarding marine habitats and creatures.  This council consists of the world’s largest concentration of coral reef scientists.

A senior professor, Phillip Munday, stated that epigenetic change refers to chemical modifications in the DNA, which signals genes to be switched on or off. A range of factors, including disease, famine, or in the case of this research, heat stress, can stimulate these subtle changes and adapt to the changing environment.

This research was conducted with reef fish, which could be able to potentially adjust to the warming oceans on a genetic level. Reef fish can inherit the genetic tools to respond and adjust to the ocean warming.  Selective DNA methylation were observed that enhanced the next generation's ability to cope with the new, warmer temperatures.  The species evaluated was a spiny chromis damselfish, a common Indo-Pacific reef fish, for two generations under three different water temperatures. Temperatures included up to 3 degrees Celsius warmer than current-day ocean temperatures. Gene expression may “buffer populations against the impacts of rapid environmental change and provide time for genetic adaptation to catch up over the longer term, by allowing maximized oxygen consumption and energy use,” said Professor Munday.

There are rapid climate changes that have caused numerous animal populations to decline.  Certain fish have the ability to adapt to such extreme circumstances, but this new information does not make global warming, at such fast rates, acceptable by any means. Coral fish are adapting to warmer temperatures, meanwhile, their coal habitats are being destroyed.  Climate change has kept reef fish in danger; the decline of their coral habitats remains a main concern regarding their survival.

For more information:

www.enn.com/articles/54425-reef-fish-inherit-tolerance-to-warming-oceans