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Eustache KB, van Loon E, Rummer JL, Planes S, Smallegange I. Spatial and temporal analysis of juvenile blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) demographies identifies critical habitats. J Fish Biol 2024; 104:92-103. [PMID: 37726231 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Reef shark species have undergone sharp declines in recent decades, as they inhabit coastal areas, making them an easy target in fisheries (i.e., sharks are exploited globally for their fins, meat, and liver oil) and exposing them to other threats (e.g., being part of by-catch, pollution, and climate change). Reef sharks play a critical role in coral reef ecosystems, where they control populations of smaller predators and herbivorous fishes either directly via predation or indirectly via behavior, thus protecting biodiversity and preventing potential overgrazing of corals. The urgent need to conserve reef shark populations necessitates a multifaceted approach to policy at local, federal, and global levels. However, monitoring programmes to evaluate the efficiency of such policies are lacking due to the difficulty in repeatedly sampling free-ranging, wild shark populations. Over nine consecutive years, we monitored juveniles of the blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) population around Moorea, French Polynesia, and within the largest shark sanctuary globally, to date. We investigated the roles of spatial (i.e., sampling sites) and temporal variables (i.e., sampling year, season, and month), water temperature, and interspecific competition on shark density across 10 coastal nursery areas. Juvenile C. melanopterus density was found to be stable over 9 years, which may highlight the effectiveness of local and likely federal policies. Two of the 10 nursery areas exhibited higher juvenile shark densities over time, which may have been related to changes in female reproductive behavior or changes in habitat type and resources. Water temperatures did not affect juvenile shark density over time as extreme temperatures proven lethal (i.e., 33°C) in juvenile C. melanopterus might have been tempered by daily variation. The proven efficiency of time-series datasets for reef sharks to identify critical habitats (having the highest juvenile shark densities over time) should be extended to other populations to significantly contribute to the conservation of reef shark species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim B Eustache
- PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, UAR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan Cedex, France
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Emiel van Loon
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and the College of Science and Engineering James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Serge Planes
- PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, UAR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan Cedex, France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL," EPHE, PSL Research University, UPVD, CNRS, UAR 3278 CRIOBE, Papetoai, French Polynesia
| | - Isabel Smallegange
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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2
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Eustache KB, Boissin É, Tardy C, Bouyoucos IA, Rummer JL, Planes S. Genetic evidence for plastic reproductive philopatry and matrotrophy in blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) of the Moorea Island (French Polynesia). Sci Rep 2023; 13:14913. [PMID: 37689802 PMCID: PMC10492826 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40140-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The exploitation of sharks and the degradation of their habitats elevate the urgency to understand the factors that influence offspring survival and ultimately shark reproductive success. We monitored and sampled blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) in nursery habitats of Moorea Island (French Polynesia), to improve knowledge on shark reproductive behavior and biology. We sampled fin clips and morphometrics from 230 young-of-the-year sharks and used microsatellite DNA markers to process parentage analysis to study the reproductive philopatric behavior in female sharks and the matrotrophy within litters. These traits are driving the success of the local replenishment influencing selection through birth site and maternal reserves transmitted to pups. Parentage analysis revealed that some female sharks changed their parturition areas (inter-seasonally) while other female sharks came back to the same site for parturition, providing evidence for a plastic philopatric behavior. Morphometrics showed that there was no significant relationship between body condition indices and nursery locations. However, similarities and differences in body condition were observed between individuals sharing the same mother, indicating that resource allocation within some shark litters might be unbalanced. Our findings further our understanding of the reproductive biology and behavior that shape shark populations with the aim to introduce these parameters into future conservation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim B Eustache
- PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, UAR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan Cedex, France.
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Émilie Boissin
- PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, UAR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan Cedex, France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Papetoai, Moorea, French Polynesia
| | - Céline Tardy
- PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, UAR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan Cedex, France
- WWF-France, 6 rue des Fabres, 13001, Marseille, France
| | - Ian A Bouyoucos
- PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, UAR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan Cedex, France
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Serge Planes
- PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, UAR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan Cedex, France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Papetoai, Moorea, French Polynesia
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3
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Seebacher F, Narayan E, Rummer JL, Tomlinson S, Cooke SJ. How can physiology best contribute to wildlife conservation in a warming world? Conserv Physiol 2023; 11:coad038. [PMID: 37287992 PMCID: PMC10243909 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coad038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Global warming is now predicted to exceed 1.5°C by 2033 and 2°C by the end of the 21st century. This level of warming and the associated environmental variability are already increasing pressure on natural and human systems. Here we emphasize the role of physiology in the light of the latest assessment of climate warming by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. We describe how physiology can contribute to contemporary conservation programmes. We focus on thermal responses of animals, but we acknowledge that the impacts of climate change are much broader phylogenetically and environmentally. A physiological contribution would encompass environmental monitoring, coupled with measuring individual sensitivities to temperature change and upscaling these to ecosystem level. The latest version of the widely accepted Conservation Standards designed by the Conservation Measures Partnership includes several explicit climate change considerations. We argue that physiology has a unique role to play in addressing these considerations. Moreover, physiology can be incorporated by institutions and organizations that range from international bodies to national governments and to local communities, and in doing so, it brings a mechanistic approach to conservation and the management of biological resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Seebacher
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences A08, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Edward Narayan
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia QLD4072, Australia
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- College of Science and Engineering and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville QLD 4810, Australia
| | - Sean Tomlinson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Steven J Cooke
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
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4
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Wheeler CR, Irschick DJ, Mandelman JW, Rummer JL. Non-lethally assessing ontogenetic shifts in energetics in an elasmobranch. J Fish Biol 2023. [PMID: 37129570 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Body condition is an important proxy for overall health and energetic status of fishes. The classically-used Fulton's condition factor requires length and mass measurements, but mass can be difficult to obtain in large species. Girth measurements can replace mass for wild pelagic sharks. However, girth-calculated condition has not been validated against Fulton's condition factor intra-specifically, across ontogeny or reproduction, or in a controlled setting. We used the epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum), because they are amenable to captive reproduction, to track fine-scale body condition changes across life stages, oviparous reproduction, and between condition indices. We measured four girths, total length, and mass of sixteen captive epaulette sharks across one year and tracked female reproduction daily. We also collected length and mass data from an additional 72 wild-caught sharks and 155 sharks from five previous studies and two public aquaria to examine the relationship between length and mass for this species. Even though data were derived from a variety of sources, a predictable length-mass relationship (R2 = 0.990) was achievable, indicating that combining data from a variety of sources could help overcome knowledge gaps regarding basic life history characteristics. We also found that condition factor decreased during early life stages, then increased again into adulthood, with predictable changes across the female reproductive cycle. Finally, we determined that both Fulton's and girth condition analyses were comparable. Outcomes from this study uniquely provide body condition changes across the complete life history, including fine-scale female reproductive stages and validate the use of girths as a non-lethal whole-organism energetic assessment for fishes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn R Wheeler
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- School for the Environment, The University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Duncan J Irschick
- Department of Biology, The University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - John W Mandelman
- School for the Environment, The University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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5
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Downie AT, Lefevre S, Illing B, Harris J, Jarrold MD, McCormick MI, Nilsson GE, Rummer JL. Rapid physiological and transcriptomic changes associated with oxygen delivery in larval anemonefish suggest a role in adaptation to life on hypoxic coral reefs. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002102. [PMID: 37167194 PMCID: PMC10174562 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Connectivity of coral reef fish populations relies on successful dispersal of a pelagic larval phase. Pelagic larvae must exhibit high swimming abilities to overcome ocean and reef currents, but once settling onto the reef, larvae transition to endure habitats that become hypoxic at night. Therefore, coral reef fish larvae must rapidly and dramatically shift their physiology over a short period of time. Taking an integrative, physiological approach, using swimming respirometry, and examining hypoxia tolerance and transcriptomics, we show that larvae of cinnamon anemonefish (Amphiprion melanopus) rapidly transition between "physiological extremes" at the end of their larval phase. Daily measurements of swimming larval anemonefish over their entire early development show that they initially have very high mass-specific oxygen uptake rates. However, oxygen uptake rates decrease midway through the larval phase. This occurs in conjunction with a switch in haemoglobin gene expression and increased expression of myoglobin, cytoglobin, and neuroglobin, which may all contribute to the observed increase in hypoxia tolerance. Our findings indicate that critical ontogenetic changes in the gene expression of oxygen-binding proteins may underpin the physiological mechanisms needed for successful larval recruitment to reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam T Downie
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
| | - Sjannie Lefevre
- Section for Physiology and Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Björn Illing
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
- Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Jessica Harris
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Michael D Jarrold
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Mark I McCormick
- Coastal Marine Field Station, School of Science, University of Waikato, Tauranga, New Zealand
| | - Göran E Nilsson
- Section for Physiology and Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
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6
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Cumming GS, Adamska M, Barnes ML, Barnett J, Bellwood DR, Cinner JE, Cohen PJ, Donelson JM, Fabricius K, Grafton RQ, Grech A, Gurney GG, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Hoey AS, Hoogenboom MO, Lau J, Lovelock CE, Lowe R, Miller DJ, Morrison TH, Mumby PJ, Nakata M, Pandolfi JM, Peterson GD, Pratchett MS, Ravasi T, Riginos C, Rummer JL, Schaffelke B, Wernberg T, Wilson SK. Research priorities for the sustainability of coral-rich western Pacific seascapes. Reg Environ Change 2023; 23:66. [PMID: 37125023 PMCID: PMC10119535 DOI: 10.1007/s10113-023-02051-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Nearly a billion people depend on tropical seascapes. The need to ensure sustainable use of these vital areas is recognised, as one of 17 policy commitments made by world leaders, in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 ('Life below Water') of the United Nations. SDG 14 seeks to secure marine sustainability by 2030. In a time of increasing social-ecological unpredictability and risk, scientists and policymakers working towards SDG 14 in the Asia-Pacific region need to know: (1) How are seascapes changing? (2) What can global society do about these changes? and (3) How can science and society together achieve sustainable seascape futures? Through a horizon scan, we identified nine emerging research priorities that clarify potential research contributions to marine sustainability in locations with high coral reef abundance. They include research on seascape geological and biological evolution and adaptation; elucidating drivers and mechanisms of change; understanding how seascape functions and services are produced, and how people depend on them; costs, benefits, and trade-offs to people in changing seascapes; improving seascape technologies and practices; learning to govern and manage seascapes for all; sustainable use, justice, and human well-being; bridging communities and epistemologies for innovative, equitable, and scale-crossing solutions; and informing resilient seascape futures through modelling and synthesis. Researchers can contribute to the sustainability of tropical seascapes by co-developing transdisciplinary understandings of people and ecosystems, emphasising the importance of equity and justice, and improving knowledge of key cross-scale and cross-level processes, feedbacks, and thresholds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graeme S. Cumming
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Maja Adamska
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Michele L. Barnes
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Jon Barnett
- School of Geography, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - David R. Bellwood
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Joshua E. Cinner
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
| | | | - Jennifer M. Donelson
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
| | | | - R. Quentin Grafton
- Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Alana Grech
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Georgina G. Gurney
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Ove Hoegh-Guldberg
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Andrew S. Hoey
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Mia O. Hoogenboom
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Jacqueline Lau
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
- WorldFish, Penang, Malaysia
| | | | - Ryan Lowe
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - David J. Miller
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
- College of Public Health, Medical & Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, 4811 Australia
| | - Tiffany H. Morrison
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Peter J. Mumby
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Martin Nakata
- Indigenous Education and Research Centre, James Cook University, Townsville, 4811 Australia
| | - John M. Pandolfi
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Garry D. Peterson
- Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Morgan S. Pratchett
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Timothy Ravasi
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
- Marine Climate Change Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-Son, Okinawa Japan
| | - Cynthia Riginos
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jodie L. Rummer
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | | | - Thomas Wernberg
- Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- Institute of Marine Research, Floedevigen Research Station, Nis, Norway
| | - Shaun K. Wilson
- Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- Western Australia Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Perth, Australia
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Debaere SF, Weideli OC, Bouyoucos IA, Eustache KB, Trujillo JE, De Boeck G, Planes S, Rummer JL. Quantifying changes in umbilicus size to estimate the relative age of neonatal blacktip reef sharks ( Carcharhinus melanopterus). Conserv Physiol 2023; 11:coad028. [PMID: 37179709 PMCID: PMC10170742 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coad028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Sharks can incur a range of external injuries throughout their lives that originate from various sources, but some of the most notable wounds in viviparous shark neonates are at the umbilicus. Umbilical wounds typically heal within 1 to 2 months post-parturition, depending on the species, and are therefore often used as an indicator of neonatal life stage or as a relative measure of age [e.g. grouping by umbilical wound classes (UWCs), according to the size of their umbilicus]. To improve comparisons of early-life characteristics between studies, species and across populations, studies using UWCs should integrate quantitative changes. To overcome this issue, we set out to quantify changes in umbilicus size of neonatal blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) around the island of Moorea, French Polynesia, based on temporal regression relationships of umbilicus size. Here, we provide a detailed description for the construction of similar quantitative umbilical wound classifications, and we subsequently validate the accuracy of our classification and discuss two examples to illustrate its efficacy, depletion rate of maternally provided energy reserves and estimation of parturition period. A significant decrease in body condition in neonatal sharks as early as twelve days post-parturition suggests a rapid depletion of in utero-allocated energy reserves stored in the liver. Back calculations of timing of birth based on the umbilicus size of neonates determine a parturition season from September to January, with most parturitions occurring during October and November. As such, this study contributes valuable data to inform the conservation and management of young-of-the-year blacktip reef sharks, and we therefore encourage the construction and use of similar regression relationships for other viviparous shark species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shamil F Debaere
- ECOSPHERE, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ornella C Weideli
- Soneva Fushi, Boduthakurufaanu Magu, Male 20077, Maldives
- Dr Risch Medical Laboratory, Wuhrstrasse 14, 9490 Vaduz, Liechtenstein
- EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, PSL Research University, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Ian A Bouyoucos
- EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, PSL Research University, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, 50 Sifton Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Kim B Eustache
- EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, PSL Research University, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - José E Trujillo
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Gudrun De Boeck
- ECOSPHERE, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Serge Planes
- EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, PSL Research University, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence 'CORAIL', EPHE, PSL Research University, UPVD, USR 3278 CRIOBE, 98729 Papetoai, Moorea, French Polynesia
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Marine Biology, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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8
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Porter ME, Hernandez AV, Gervais CR, Rummer JL. Aquatic Walking and Swimming Kinematics of Neonate and Juvenile Epaulette Sharks. Integr Comp Biol 2022; 62:1710-1724. [PMID: 35896482 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icac127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The epaulette shark, Hemiscyllium ocellatum, is a small, reef-dwelling, benthic shark that-using its paired fins-can walk, both in and out of water. Within the reef flats, this species experiences short periods of elevated CO2 and hypoxia as well as fluctuating temperatures as reef flats become isolated with the outgoing tide. Past studies have shown that this species is robust (i.e., respiratory and metabolic performance, behavior) to climate change-relevant elevated CO2 levels as well as hypoxia and anoxia tolerant. However, epaulette shark embryos reared under ocean warming conditions hatch earlier and smaller, with altered patterns and coloration, and with higher metabolic costs than their current-day counterparts. Findings to date suggest that this species has adaptations to tolerate some, but perhaps not all, of the challenging conditions predicted for the 21st century. As such, the epaulette shark is emerging as a model system to understand vertebrate physiology in changing oceans. Yet, few studies have investigated the kinematics of walking and swimming, which may be vital to their biological fitness, considering their habitat and propensity for challenging environmental conditions. Given that neonates retain embryonic nutrition via an internalized yolk sac, resulting in a bulbous abdomen, while juveniles actively forage for worms, crustaceans, and small fishes, we hypothesized that difference in body shape over early ontogeny would affect locomotor performance. To test this, we examined neonate and juvenile locomotor kinematics during the three aquatic gaits they utilize-slow-to-medium walking, fast walking, and swimming-using 13 anatomical landmarks along the fins, girdles, and body midline. We found that differences in body shape did not alter kinematics between neonates and juveniles. Overall velocity, fin rotation, axial bending, and tail beat frequency and amplitude were consistent between early life stages. Data suggest that the locomotor kinematics are maintained between neonate and juvenile epaulette sharks, even as their feeding strategy changes. Studying epaulette shark locomotion allows us to understand this-and perhaps related-species' ability to move within and away from challenging conditions in their habitats. Such locomotor traits may not only be key to survival, in general, as a small, benthic mesopredator (i.e., movements required to maneuver into small reef crevices to avoid aerial and aquatic predators), but also be related to their sustained physiological performance under challenging environmental conditions, including those associated with climate change-a topic worthy of future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne E Porter
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | - Andrea V Hernandez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | - Connor R Gervais
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.,Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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9
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Wheeler CR, Lang BJ, Mandelman JW, Rummer JL. The upper thermal limit of epaulette sharks ( Hemiscyllium ocellatum) is conserved across three life history stages, sex and body size. Conserv Physiol 2022; 10:coac074. [PMID: 36583221 PMCID: PMC9795165 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coac074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Owing to climate change, most notably the increasing frequency of marine heatwaves and long-term ocean warming, better elucidating the upper thermal limits of marine fishes is important for predicting the future of species and populations. The critical thermal maximum (CTmax), or the highest temperature a species can tolerate, is a physiological metric that is used to establish upper thermal limits. Among marine organisms, this metric is commonly assessed in bony fishes but less so in other taxonomic groups, such as elasmobranchs (subclass of sharks, rays and skates), where only thermal acclimation effects on CTmax have been assessed. Herein, we tested whether three life history stages, sex and body size affected CTmax in a tropical elasmobranch, the epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum), collected from the reef flats surrounding Heron Island, Australia. Overall, we found no difference in CTmax between life history stages, sexes or across a range of body sizes. Findings from this research suggest that the energetically costly processes (i.e. growth, maturation and reproduction) associated with the life history stages occupying these tropical reef flats do not change overall acute thermal tolerance. However, it is important to note that neither embryos developing in ovo, neonates, nor females actively encapsulating egg cases were observed in or collected from the reef flats. Overall, our findings provide the first evidence in an elasmobranch that upper thermal tolerance is not impacted by life history stage or size. This information will help to improve our understanding of how anthropogenic climate change may (or may not) disproportionally affect particular life stages and, as such, where additional conservation and management actions may be required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn R Wheeler
- Corresponding author: 1 James Cook Drive, Douglas, Queensland 4814, Australia. Tel: + 61 0480 129 737.
| | - Bethan J Lang
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4814, Australia
| | - John W Mandelman
- School for the Environment, The University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium, Boston, MA 02110, USA
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4814, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4814, Australia
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10
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Trujillo JE, Bouyoucos I, Rayment WJ, Domenici P, Planes S, Rummer JL, Allan BJM. Escape response kinematics in two species of tropical shark: short escape latencies and high turning performance. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:276912. [PMID: 36168768 PMCID: PMC9845744 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.243973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Accelerative manoeuvres, such as fast-starts, are crucial for fish to avoid predation. Escape responses are fast-starts that include fundamental survival traits for prey that experience high predation pressure. However, no previous study has assessed escape performance in neonate tropical sharks. We quantitatively evaluated vulnerability traits of neonate tropical sharks by testing predictions on their fast-start escape performance. We predicted (1) high manoeuvrability, given their high flexibility, but (2) low propulsive locomotion owing to the drag costs associated with pectoral fin extension during escape responses. Further, based on previous work on dogfish, Squalus suckleyi, we predicted (3) long reaction times (as latencies longer than teleosts, >20 ms). We used two-dimensional, high-speed videography analysis of mechano-acoustically stimulated neonate blacktip reef shark, Carcharhinus melanopterus (n=12), and sicklefin lemon shark, Negaprion acutidens (n=8). Both species performed a characteristic C-start double-bend response (i.e. two body bends), but single-bend responses were only observed in N. acutidens. As predicted, neonate sharks showed high manoeuvrability with high turning rates and tight turning radii (3-11% of body length) but low propulsive performance (i.e. speed, acceleration and velocity) when compared with similar-sized teleosts and S. suckleyi. Contrary to expectations, escape latencies were <20 ms in both species, suggesting that the neurophysiological system of sharks when reacting to a predatory attack may not be limited to long response times. These results provide a quantitative assessment of survival traits in neonate tropical sharks that will be crucial for future studies that consider the vulnerability of these sharks to predation.
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Affiliation(s)
- José E. Trujillo
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand,Author for correspondence ()
| | - Ian Bouyoucos
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville 4814, Australia,PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 66100 Perpignan, France,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R2T 2N2, Canada
| | - William J. Rayment
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Paolo Domenici
- CNR-IAS, Località Sa Mardini, 09170 Torregrande, Oristano, Italy,CNR-IBF, Area di Ricerca San Cataldo, Via G. Moruzzi N°1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Serge Planes
- PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 66100 Perpignan, France,Laboratoire d'Excellence CORAIL, EPHE, PSL Research University, UPVD, CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Papetoai 98729, French Polynesia
| | - Jodie L. Rummer
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville 4814, Australia,Marine Biology, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville 4814, Australia
| | - Bridie J. M. Allan
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
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11
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Wheeler CR, Kneebone J, Heinrich D, Strugnell JM, Mandelman JW, Rummer JL. Diel Rhythm and Thermal Independence of Metabolic Rate in a Benthic Shark. J Biol Rhythms 2022; 37:484-497. [PMID: 35822624 DOI: 10.1177/07487304221107843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Biological rhythms that are mediated by exogenous factors, such as light and temperature, drive the physiology of organisms and affect processes ranging from cellular to population levels. For elasmobranchs (i.e. sharks, rays, and skates), studies documenting diel activity and movement patterns indicate that many species are crepuscular or nocturnal in nature. However, few studies have investigated the rhythmicity of elasmobranch physiology to understand the mechanisms underpinning these distinct patterns. Here, we assess diel patterns of metabolic rates in a small meso-predator, the epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum), across ecologically relevant temperatures and upon acutely removing photoperiod cues. This species possibly demonstrates behavioral sleep during daytime hours, which is supported herein by low metabolic rates during the day and a 1.7-fold increase in metabolic rates at night. From spring to summer seasons, where average average water temperature temperatures for this species range 24.5 to 28.5 °C, time of day, and not temperature, had the strongest influence on metabolic rate. These results indicate that this species, and perhaps other similar species from tropical and coastal environments, may have physiological mechanisms in place to maintain metabolic rate on a seasonal time scale regardless of temperature fluctuations that are relevant to their native habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn R Wheeler
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,School for the Environment, The University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jeff Kneebone
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Dennis Heinrich
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jan M Strugnell
- Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - John W Mandelman
- School for the Environment, The University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts.,Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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12
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Kang J, Nagelkerken I, Rummer JL, Rodolfo‐Metalpa R, Munday PL, Ravasi T, Schunter C. Rapid evolution fuels transcriptional plasticity to ocean acidification. Glob Chang Biol 2022; 28:3007-3022. [PMID: 35238117 PMCID: PMC9310587 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Ocean acidification (OA) is postulated to affect the physiology, behavior, and life-history of marine species, but potential for acclimation or adaptation to elevated pCO2 in wild populations remains largely untested. We measured brain transcriptomes of six coral reef fish species at a natural volcanic CO2 seep and an adjacent control reef in Papua New Guinea. We show that elevated pCO2 induced common molecular responses related to circadian rhythm and immune system but different magnitudes of molecular response across the six species. Notably, elevated transcriptional plasticity was associated with core circadian genes affecting the regulation of intracellular pH and neural activity in Acanthochromis polyacanthus. Gene expression patterns were reversible in this species as evidenced upon reduction of CO2 following a natural storm-event. Compared with other species, Ac. polyacanthus has a more rapid evolutionary rate and more positively selected genes in key functions under the influence of elevated CO2 , thus fueling increased transcriptional plasticity. Our study reveals the basis to variable gene expression changes across species, with some species possessing evolved molecular toolkits to cope with future OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingliang Kang
- Swire Institute of Marine ScienceSchool of Biological SciencesThe University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong SARChina
| | - Ivan Nagelkerken
- Southern Seas Ecology LaboratoriesSchool of Biological Sciences & The Environment InstituteThe University of AdelaideAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Jodie L. Rummer
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleAustralia
- College of Science and EngineeringJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
| | - Riccardo Rodolfo‐Metalpa
- ENTROPIE – UMR 9220 (CNRS, IRD, UR, UNC, IFREMER)IRD Institut de Recherche pour le DéveloppementNouméa cedexNew Caledonia
| | - Philip L. Munday
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleAustralia
| | - Timothy Ravasi
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleAustralia
- Marine Climate Change UnitOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate UniversityOnna‐sonJapan
| | - Celia Schunter
- Swire Institute of Marine ScienceSchool of Biological SciencesThe University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong SARChina
- State Key Laboratory of Marine PollutionCity University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong SARChina
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13
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Cooke SJ, Hultine KR, Rummer JL, Fangue NA, Seebacher F, Eliason EJ, MacMillan HA, Fuller A, Franklin CE. Elevating the impact of conservation physiology by building a community devoted to excellence, transparency, ethics, integrity and mutual respect. Conserv Physiol 2022; 10:coac015. [PMID: 35492405 PMCID: PMC9040284 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coac015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Cooke
- Corresponding author: Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada.
| | - Kevin R Hultine
- Department of Research, Conservation and Collections, Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- College of Science and Engineering and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia
| | - Nann A Fangue
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Frank Seebacher
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW, 2016, Australia
| | - Erika J Eliason
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Heath A MacMillan
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Andrea Fuller
- Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa
| | - Craig E Franklin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland , 4072, Australia
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14
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Prescott LA, Regish AM, McMahon SJ, McCormick SD, Rummer JL. Rapid embryonic development supports the early onset of gill functions in two coral reef damselfishes. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:272637. [PMID: 34708857 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.242364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The gill is one of the most important organs for growth and survival of fishes. Early life stages in coral reef fishes often exhibit extreme physiological and demographic characteristics that are linked to well-established respiratory and ionoregulatory processes. However, gill development and function in coral reef fishes is not well understood. Therefore, we investigated gill morphology, oxygen uptake and ionoregulatory systems throughout embryogenesis in two coral reef damselfishes, Acanthochromis polyacanthus and Amphiprion melanopus (Pomacentridae). In both species, we found key gill structures to develop rapidly early in the embryonic phase. Ionoregulatory cells appear on gill filaments 3-4 days post-fertilization and increase in density, whilst disappearing or shrinking in cutaneous locations. Primary respiratory tissue (lamellae) appears 5-7 days post-fertilization, coinciding with a peak in oxygen uptake rates of the developing embryos. Oxygen uptake was unaffected by phenylhydrazine across all ages (pre-hatching), indicating that haemoglobin is not yet required for oxygen uptake. This suggests that gills have limited contribution to respiratory functions during embryonic development, at least until hatching. Rapid gill development in damselfishes, when compared with that in most previously investigated fishes, may reflect preparations for a high-performance, challenging lifestyle on tropical reefs, but may also make reef fishes more vulnerable to anthropogenic stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leteisha A Prescott
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Amy M Regish
- US Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory, Turners Falls, MA 01376, USA
| | - Shannon J McMahon
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Stephen D McCormick
- US Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory, Turners Falls, MA 01376, USA.,Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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15
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Schoen AN, Bouyoucos IA, Anderson WG, Wheaton CJ, Planes S, Mylniczenko ND, Rummer JL. Simulated heatwave and fishing stressors alter corticosteroid and energy balance in neonate blacktip reef sharks, Carcharhinus melanopterus. Conserv Physiol 2021; 9:coab067. [PMID: 34457309 PMCID: PMC8395585 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coab067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The increasing frequency and duration of marine heatwaves attributed to climate change threatens coastal elasmobranchs and may exacerbate existing anthropogenic stressors. While the elasmobranch stress response has been well studied, the role of the unique corticosteroid-1α-hydroxycorticosterone (1α-OHB)-in energy balance is not understood. Therefore, 1α-OHB's utility as a stress biomarker in elasmobranch conservation physiology is equivocal. Here, we analyse the roles of corticosteroids, 1α-OHB and corticosterone, and metabolites, glucose and 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-HB), in response to stress in a protected tropical shark species, the blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus). Wild-caught neonates were exposed to ambient (27°C) or heatwave conditions (29°C) and subsequently a simulated fishing stressor (1 min air exposure). Blood samples were taken prior to temperature exposure, prior to air exposure, and 30 min, 1 h, 24 h, and 48 h post-air exposure at treatment temperatures. Plasma 1α-OHB was elevated for 48 h in 27°C-exposed sharks but declined over time in 29°C-exposed sharks. Plasma 1α-OHB was not correlated with either metabolite. Plasma glucose was higher and plasma 3-HB was lower in 29°C-exposed sharks. In a separate experiment, blood samples were collected from both neonate and adult sharks immediately following capture and again 5 min later, and analysed for corticosteroids and metabolites. Plasma 1α-OHB increased in neonates within 5 min, but neonates displayed lower plasma 1α-OHB and higher glucose concentrations than adults. We conclude that 1α-OHB does not serve as a classic glucocorticoid role in C. melanopterus under these stressors. Furthermore, we show for the first time, ontogenetic differences in plasma 1α-OHB. Ultimately, our findings provide insights into hormonal control of energy mobilization during stress in C. melanopterus, particularly during simulated heatwave conditions, which seem to alter both endocrine and energy mobilization. Further work is needed to determine the utility of 1α-OHB as a biomarker for the mobilization of energy during a stress event in elasmobranchs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra N Schoen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, 50 Sifton Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Ian A Bouyoucos
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
- PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - W Gary Anderson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, 50 Sifton Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Catharine J Wheaton
- Disney Animals, Science and Environment, Disney’s Animal Kingdom® and the Seas with Nemo and Friends®, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, USA
| | - Serge Planes
- PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France
- Laboratoire d’Excellence ‘CORAIL’, EPHE, PSL Research University, UPVD, CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Papetoai, Moorea, French Polynesia
| | - Natalie D Mylniczenko
- Disney Animals, Science and Environment, Disney’s Animal Kingdom® and the Seas with Nemo and Friends®, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, USA
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
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16
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Bouyoucos IA, Trujillo JE, Weideli OC, Nakamura N, Mourier J, Planes S, Simpfendorfer CA, Rummer JL. Investigating links between thermal tolerance and oxygen supply capacity in shark neonates from a hyperoxic tropical environment. Sci Total Environ 2021; 782:146854. [PMID: 33853007 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Temperature and oxygen limit the distribution of marine ectotherms. Haematological traits underlying blood-oxygen carrying capacity are thought to be correlated with thermal tolerance in certain fishes, and this relationship is hypothesised to be explained by oxygen supply capacity. We tested this hypothesis using reef shark neonates as experimental models because they live near their upper thermal limits and are physiologically sensitive to low oxygen conditions. We first described in situ associations between temperature and oxygen at the study site (Moorea, French Polynesia) and found that the habitats for reef shark neonates (Carcharhinus melanopterus and Negaprion acutidens) were hyperoxic at the maximum recorded temperatures. Next, we tested for in situ associations between thermal habitat characteristics and haematological traits of neonates. Contrary to predictions, we only demonstrated a negative association between haemoglobin concentration and maximum habitat temperatures in C. melanopterus. Next, we tested for ex situ associations between critical thermal maximum (CTMax) and haematological traits, but only demonstrated a negative association between haematocrit and CTMax in C. melanopterus. Finally, we measured critical oxygen tension (pcrit) ex situ and estimated its temperature sensitivity to predict oxygen-dependent values of CTMax. Estimated temperature sensitivity of pcrit was similar to reported values for sharks and skates, and predicted values for CTMax equalled maximum habitat temperatures. These data demonstrate unique associations between haematological traits and thermal tolerance in a reef shark that are likely not explained by oxygen supply capacity. However, a relationship between oxygen supply capacity and thermal tolerance remains to be demonstrated empirically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian A Bouyoucos
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia; PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France.
| | - José E Trujillo
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Ornella C Weideli
- PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Nao Nakamura
- PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Johann Mourier
- PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France; Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", EPHE, PSL Research University, UPVD, CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Papetoai, Moorea, French Polynesia; Université de Corse Pasquale Paoli, UMS 3514 Plateforme Marine Stella Mare, 20620 Biguglia, France
| | - Serge Planes
- PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France; Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", EPHE, PSL Research University, UPVD, CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Papetoai, Moorea, French Polynesia
| | - Colin A Simpfendorfer
- Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture & College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
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17
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Dubuc A, Collins GM, Coleman L, Waltham NJ, Rummer JL, Sheaves M. Association between physiological performance and short temporal changes in habitat utilisation modulated by environmental factors. Mar Environ Res 2021; 170:105448. [PMID: 34438217 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Temporal environmental variability causes behavioural and physiological responses in organisms that can affect their spatial location in time, and ultimately drive changes in population and community dynamics. Linking ecological changes with underlying environmental drivers is a complex task that can however be facilitated through the integration of physiology. Our overarching aim was to investigate the association between physiological performance and habitat utilisation patterns modulated by short temporal fluctuations in environmental factors. We used in situ monitoring data from a system experiencing extreme environmental fluctuations over a few hours and we selected four fish species with different habitat utilisation patterns across dissolved oxygen (DO) fluctuations: two commonly observed species (Siganus lineatus and Acanthopagrus pacificus), including at low DO (40 and 50% saturation, respectively), and two reef species (Heniochus acuminatus and Chaetodon vagabundus) never recorded below 70% saturation. We hypothesised that these patterns were associated to species' physiological performance in hypoxia. Therefore, we measured different metabolic variables (O2crit, incipient lethal oxygen (ILO), time to ILO, index of cumulative ambient oxygen deficit (O2deficit), maximum oxygen supply capacity (α)) using respirometry. Physiological performance differed among species and was intrinsically associated to habitat use patterns. S. lineatus had a lower O2crit than H. acuminatus, A. pacificus and C. vagabundus (13, 18.7, 20 and 20.2% saturation respectively). Additionally, S. lineatus and A. pacificus displayed better capacity for survival below O2crit than C. vagabundus and H. acuminatus (lower ILO, higher O2deficit and longer time to ILO) and higher α. Field monitoring data revealed that DO temporarily falls below species' O2crit and even ILO on most days, suggesting that short temporal variability in DO likely forces species to temporarily avoid harmful conditions, driving important changes in ecosystem structure over a few hours. Our results support the hypothesis that organismal physiology can provide insights into ecological changes occurring over a few hours as a result of environmental variability. Consequently, integrating physiology with ecological data at relevant temporal scales may help predict temporal shifts in ecosystems structure and functions to account for ecological patterns often overlooked and difficult to identify.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexia Dubuc
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia.
| | | | - Laura Coleman
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia
| | - Nathan J Waltham
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia; TropWATER, Townsville, Qld, Australia
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia
| | - Marcus Sheaves
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia; TropWATER, Townsville, Qld, Australia
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18
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Schwieterman GD, Rummer JL, Bouyoucos IA, Bushnell PG, Brill RW. A lack of red blood cell swelling in five elasmobranch fishes following air exposure and exhaustive exercise. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2021; 258:110978. [PMID: 33989809 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.110978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In teleost fishes, catecholamine-induced increases in the activity of cation exchangers compensate for decreases in hemoglobin oxygen affinity and maximum blood oxygen carrying capacity caused by decreases in plasma pH (i.e., metabolic acidosis). The resultant red blood cell (RBC) swelling has been documented in sandbar (Carcharhinus plumbeus) and epaulette (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) sharks following capture by rod-and-reel or after a 1.5 h exposure to anoxia (respectively), although the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. To determine if RBC swelling could be documented in other elasmobranch fishes, we collected blood samples from clearnose skate (Rostroraja eglanteria), blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus), and sicklefin lemon shark (Negaprion acutidens) subjected to exhaustive exercise or air exposure (or both) and measured hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, RBC count, RBC volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin content. We did likewise with sandbar and epaulette sharks to further explore the mechanisms driving swelling when present. We could not document RBC swelling in any species; although hematocrit increased in all species (presumably due to RBC ejection from the spleen or fluid shifts out of the vascular compartment) except epaulette shark. Our results indicate RBC swelling and associated ion shifts in elasmobranch fishes is not inducible by exercise or hypoxia, thus implying this response maybe of lesser importance for maintaining oxygen delivery during acute acidosis than in teleost fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gail D Schwieterman
- Department of Fisheries Science, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, United States of America.
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Ian A Bouyoucos
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Peter G Bushnell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indiana University South Bend, South Bend, IN 46615, United States of America
| | - Richard W Brill
- Department of Fisheries Science, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, United States of America
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19
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Salmerón C, Harter TS, Kwan GT, Roa JN, Blair SD, Rummer JL, Shiels HA, Goss GG, Wilson RW, Tresguerres M. Molecular and biochemical characterization of the bicarbonate-sensing soluble adenylyl cyclase from a bony fish, the rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. Interface Focus 2021; 11:20200026. [PMID: 33633829 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2020.0026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) is a HC O 3 - -stimulated enzyme that produces the ubiquitous signalling molecule cAMP, and deemed an evolutionarily conserved acid-base sensor. However, its presence is not yet confirmed in bony fishes, the most abundant and diverse of vertebrates. Here, we identified sAC genes in various cartilaginous, ray-finned and lobe-finned fish species. Next, we focused on rainbow trout sAC (rtsAC) and identified 20 potential alternative spliced mRNAs coding for protein isoforms ranging in size from 28 to 186 kDa. Biochemical and kinetic analyses on purified recombinant rtsAC protein determined stimulation by HC O 3 - at physiologically relevant levels for fish internal fluids (EC50 ∼ 7 mM). rtsAC activity was sensitive to KH7, LRE1, and DIDS (established inhibitors of sAC from other organisms), and insensitive to forskolin and 2,5-dideoxyadenosine (modulators of transmembrane adenylyl cyclases). Western blot and immunocytochemistry revealed high rtsAC expression in gill ion-transporting cells, hepatocytes, red blood cells, myocytes and cardiomyocytes. Analyses in the cell line RTgill-W1 suggested that some of the longer rtsAC isoforms may be preferentially localized in the nucleus, the Golgi apparatus and podosomes. These results indicate that sAC is poised to mediate multiple acid-base homeostatic responses in bony fishes, and provide cues about potential novel functions in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Salmerón
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Till S Harter
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Garfield T Kwan
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jinae N Roa
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Salvatore D Blair
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Biology, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC, USA
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Holly A Shiels
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, UK
| | - Greg G Goss
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Rod W Wilson
- Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Martin Tresguerres
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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20
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Nay TJ, Longbottom RJ, Gervais CR, Johansen JL, Steffensen JF, Rummer JL, Hoey AS. Regulate or tolerate: Thermal strategy of a coral reef flat resident, the epaulette shark, Hemiscyllium ocellatum. J Fish Biol 2021; 98:723-732. [PMID: 33206373 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Highly variable thermal environments, such as coral reef flats, are challenging for marine ectotherms and are thought to invoke the use of behavioural strategies to avoid extreme temperatures and seek out thermal environments close to their preferred temperatures. Common to coral reef flats, the epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) possesses physiological adaptations to hypoxic and hypercapnic conditions, such as those experienced on reef flats, but little is known regarding the thermal strategies used by these sharks. We investigated whether H. ocellatum uses behavioural thermoregulation (i.e., movement to occupy thermally favourable microhabitats) or tolerates the broad range of temperatures experienced on the reef flat. Using an automated shuttlebox system, we determined the preferred temperature of H. ocellatum under controlled laboratory conditions and then compared this preferred temperature to 6 months of in situ environmental and body temperatures of individual H. ocellatum across the Heron Island reef flat. The preferred temperature of H. ocellatum under controlled conditions was 20.7 ± 1.5°C, but the body temperatures of individual H. ocellatum on the Heron Island reef flat mirrored environmental temperatures regardless of season or month. Despite substantial temporal variation in temperature on the Heron Island reef flat (15-34°C during 2017), there was a lack of spatial variation in temperature across the reef flat between sites or microhabitats. This limited spatial variation in temperature creates a low-quality thermal habitat limiting the ability of H. ocellatum to behaviourally thermoregulate. Behavioural thermoregulation is assumed in many shark species, but it appears that H. ocellatum may utilize other physiological strategies to cope with extreme temperature fluctuations on coral reef flats. While H. ocellatum appears to be able to tolerate acute exposure to temperatures well outside of their preferred temperature, it is unclear how this, and other, species will cope as temperatures continue to rise and approach their critical thermal limits. Understanding how species will respond to continued warming and the strategies they may use will be key to predicting future populations and assemblages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany J Nay
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Rohan J Longbottom
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Connor R Gervais
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jacob L Johansen
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, Kaneohe, Hawaii, USA
| | - John F Steffensen
- Marine Biological Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Helsingør, Denmark
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrew S Hoey
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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21
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Cooke SJ, Cramp RL, Madliger CL, Bergman JN, Reeve C, Rummer JL, Hultine KR, Fuller A, French SS, Franklin CE. Conservation physiology and the COVID-19 pandemic. Conserv Physiol 2021; 9:coaa139. [PMID: 33469469 PMCID: PMC7805516 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coaa139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health measures have had unanticipated effects on ecosystems and biodiversity. Conservation physiology and its mechanistic underpinnings are well positioned to generate robust data to inform the extent to which the Anthropause has benefited biodiversity through alterations in disturbance-, pollution- and climate change-related emissions. The conservation physiology toolbox includes sensitive biomarkers and tools that can be used both retroactively (e.g. to reconstruct stress in wildlife before, during and after lockdown measures) and proactively (e.g. future viral waves) to understand the physiological consequences of the pandemic. The pandemic has also created new risks to ecosystems and biodiversity through extensive use of various antimicrobial products (e.g. hand cleansers, sprays) and plastic medical waste. Conservation physiology can be used to identify regulatory thresholds for those products. Moreover, given that COVID-19 is zoonotic, there is also opportunity for conservation physiologists to work closely with experts in conservation medicine and human health on strategies that will reduce the likelihood of future pandemics (e.g. what conditions enable disease development and pathogen transfer) while embracing the One Health concept. The conservation physiology community has also been impacted directly by COVID-19 with interruptions in research, training and networking (e.g. conferences). Because this is a nascent discipline, it will be particularly important to support early career researchers and ensure that there are recruitment pathways for the next generation of conservation physiologists while creating a diverse and inclusive community. We remain hopeful for the future and in particular the ability of the conservation physiology community to deliver relevant, solutions-oriented science to guide decision makers particularly during the important post-COVID transition and economic recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Cooke
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Rebecca L Cramp
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Christine L Madliger
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Jordanna N Bergman
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Connor Reeve
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Kevin R Hultine
- Department of Research, Conservation and Collections, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA
| | - Andrea Fuller
- Brain Function Research Group, Department of Research, Conservation and Collections, School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown 2193, South Africa
| | - Susannah S French
- The Department of Biology and The Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Craig E Franklin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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22
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Illing B, Severati A, Hochen J, Boyd P, Raison P, Mather R, Downie AT, Rummer JL, Kroon FJ, Humphrey C. Automated flow control of a multi-lane swimming chamber for small fishes indicates species-specific sensitivity to experimental protocols. Conserv Physiol 2021; 9:coaa131. [PMID: 33659062 PMCID: PMC7905161 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coaa131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
In fishes, swimming performance is considered an important metric to measure fitness, dispersal and migratory abilities. The swimming performance of individual larval fishes is often integrated into models to make inferences on how environmental parameters affect population-level dynamics (e.g. connectivity). However, little information exists regarding how experimental protocols affect the swimming performance of marine fish larvae. In addition, the technical setups used to measure larval fish swimming performance often lack automation and accurate control of water quality parameters and flow velocity. In this study, we automated the control of multi-lane swimming chambers for small fishes by developing an open-source algorithm. This automation allowed us to execute repeatable flow scenarios and reduce operator interference and inaccuracies in flow velocity typically associated with manual control. Furthermore, we made structural modifications to a prior design to reduce the areas of lower flow velocity. We then validated the flow dynamics of the new chambers using computational fluid dynamics and particle-tracking software. The algorithm provided an accurate alignment between the set and measured flow velocities and we used it to test whether faster critical swimming speed (U crit) protocols (i.e. shorter time intervals and higher velocity increments) would increase U crit of early life stages of two tropical fish species [4-10-mm standard length (SL)]. The U crit of barramundi (Lates calcarifer) and cinnamon anemonefish (Amphiprion melanopus) increased linearly with fish length, but in cinnamon anemonefish, U crit started to decrease upon metamorphosis. Swimming protocols using longer time intervals (more than 2.5 times increase) negatively affected U crit in cinnamon anemonefish but not in barramundi. These species-specific differences in swimming performance highlight the importance of testing suitable U crit protocols prior to experimentation. The automated control of flow velocity will create more accurate and repeatable data on swimming performance of larval fishes. Integrating refined measurements into individual-based models will support future research on the effects of environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn Illing
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Andrea Severati
- National Sea Simulator, Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia
| | - Justin Hochen
- National Sea Simulator, Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia
| | - Paul Boyd
- National Sea Simulator, Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia
| | - Paulin Raison
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, School of Engineering, Route Cantonale, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Rachel Mather
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Adam T Downie
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Frederieke J Kroon
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia
- Division of Research and Innovation, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Craig Humphrey
- National Sea Simulator, Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia
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23
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Hannan KD, McMahon SJ, Munday PL, Rummer JL. Contrasting effects of constant and fluctuating pCO 2 conditions on the exercise physiology of coral reef fishes. Mar Environ Res 2021; 163:105224. [PMID: 33316710 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.105224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Ocean acidification (OA) is predicted to affect the physiology of some fishes. To date, most studies have investigated this issue using stable pCO2 levels based on open ocean projections. Yet, most shallow, nearshore systems experience temporal and spatial pCO2 fluctuations. For example, pCO2 on coral reefs is highest at night and lowest during the day, but as OA progresses, both the average pCO2 and magnitude of fluctuations are expected to increase. We exposed four coral reef fishes - Lutjanus fulviflamma, Caesio cuning, Abudefduf whitleyi, and Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus - to ambient, stable elevated, or fluctuating elevated pCO2 conditions for 9-11 days. Then, we measured swimming performance, oxygen uptake rates, and haematological parameters during the day and at night. When compared to ambient pCO2 conditions, L. fulviflamma, C. cuning, and A. whitleyi exposed to fluctuating elevated pCO2 increased swimming performance, maximum oxygen uptake rates, and aerobic scope, regardless of time of day; whereas, the only nocturnal species studied, C. quinquelineatus, decreased maximum oxygen uptake rates and aerobic scope. Our findings suggest that exposure to fluctuating or stable elevated pCO2 can physiologically benefit some coral reef fishes; however, other species, such as the cardinalfish examined here, may be more sensitive to future OA conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly D Hannan
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
| | - Shannon J McMahon
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Philip L Munday
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
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24
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Gervais CR, Huveneers C, Rummer JL, Brown C. Population variation in the thermal response to climate change reveals differing sensitivity in a benthic shark. Glob Chang Biol 2021; 27:108-120. [PMID: 33118308 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Many species with broad distributions are exposed to different thermal regimes which often select for varied phenotypes. This intraspecific variation is often overlooked but may be critical in dictating the vulnerability of different populations to environmental change. We reared Port Jackson shark (Heterodontus portusjacksoni) eggs from two thermally discrete populations (i.e. Jervis Bay and Adelaide) under each location's present-day mean temperatures, predicted end-of-century temperatures and under reciprocal-cross conditions to establish intraspecific thermal sensitivity. Rearing temperatures strongly influenced ṀO2 Max and critical thermal limits, regardless of population, indicative of acclimation processes. However, there were significant population-level effects, such that Jervis Bay sharks, regardless of rearing temperature, did not exhibit differences in ṀO2 Rest , but under elevated temperatures exhibited reduced maximum swimming activity with step-wise increases in temperature. In contrast, Adelaide sharks reared under elevated temperatures doubled their ṀO2 Rest , relative to their present-day temperature counterparts; however, maximum swimming activity was not influenced. With respect to reciprocal-cross comparisons, few differences were detected between Jervis Bay and Adelaide sharks reared under ambient Jervis Bay temperatures. Similarly, juveniles (from both populations) reared under Adelaide conditions had similar thermal limits and swimming activity (maximum volitional velocity and distance) to each other, indicative of conserved acclimation capacity. However, under Adelaide temperatures, the ṀO2 Rest of Jervis Bay sharks was greater than that of Adelaide sharks. This indicates that the energetics of cooler water population (Adelaide) is likely more thermally sensitive than that of the warmer population (Jervis Bay). While unique to elasmobranchs, these data provide further support that by treating species as static, homogeneous populations, we ignore the impacts of thermal history and intraspecific variation on thermal sensitivity. With climate change, intraspecific variation will manifest as populations move, demographics change or extirpations occur, starting with the most sensitive populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor R Gervais
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Charlie Huveneers
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Culum Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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25
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Cooke SJ, Bergman JN, Madliger CL, Cramp RL, Beardall J, Burness G, Clark TD, Dantzer B, de la Barrera E, Fangue NA, Franklin CE, Fuller A, Hawkes LA, Hultine KR, Hunt KE, Love OP, MacMillan HA, Mandelman JW, Mark FC, Martin LB, Newman AEM, Nicotra AB, Raby GD, Robinson SA, Ropert-Coudert Y, Rummer JL, Seebacher F, Todgham AE, Tomlinson S, Chown SL. One hundred research questions in conservation physiology for generating actionable evidence to inform conservation policy and practice. Conserv Physiol 2021; 9:coab009. [PMID: 33859825 PMCID: PMC8035967 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coab009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Environmental change and biodiversity loss are but two of the complex challenges facing conservation practitioners and policy makers. Relevant and robust scientific knowledge is critical for providing decision-makers with the actionable evidence needed to inform conservation decisions. In the Anthropocene, science that leads to meaningful improvements in biodiversity conservation, restoration and management is desperately needed. Conservation Physiology has emerged as a discipline that is well-positioned to identify the mechanisms underpinning population declines, predict responses to environmental change and test different in situ and ex situ conservation interventions for diverse taxa and ecosystems. Here we present a consensus list of 10 priority research themes. Within each theme we identify specific research questions (100 in total), answers to which will address conservation problems and should improve the management of biological resources. The themes frame a set of research questions related to the following: (i) adaptation and phenotypic plasticity; (ii) human-induced environmental change; (iii) human-wildlife interactions; (iv) invasive species; (v) methods, biomarkers and monitoring; (vi) policy, engagement and communication; (vii) pollution; (viii) restoration actions; (ix) threatened species; and (x) urban systems. The themes and questions will hopefully guide and inspire researchers while also helping to demonstrate to practitioners and policy makers the many ways in which physiology can help to support their decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Cooke
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
- Corresponding author: Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada.
| | - Jordanna N Bergman
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Christine L Madliger
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Rebecca L Cramp
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia
| | - John Beardall
- Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Gary Burness
- Department of Biology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Timothy D Clark
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - Ben Dantzer
- Department of Psychology, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Erick de la Barrera
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Morelia, Michoacán, 58190, Mexico
| | - Nann A Fangue
- Department of Wildlife, Fish & Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Craig E Franklin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia
| | - Andrea Fuller
- Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Rd, Parktown, 2193, South Africa
| | - Lucy A Hawkes
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hatherly Laboratories, University of Exeter, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter EX4 4PS, UK
| | - Kevin R Hultine
- Department of Research, Conservation and Collections, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA
| | - Kathleen E Hunt
- Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
| | - Oliver P Love
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Heath A MacMillan
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - John W Mandelman
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA, 02110, USA
| | - Felix C Mark
- Department of Integrative Ecophysiology, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Lynn B Martin
- Global Health and Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Amy E M Newman
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Adrienne B Nicotra
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Graham D Raby
- Department of Biology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Sharon A Robinson
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences (SEALS) and Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia
| | - Yan Ropert-Coudert
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS UMR 7372—La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Frank Seebacher
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences A08, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Anne E Todgham
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Sean Tomlinson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
| | - Steven L Chown
- Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
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26
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Hannan KD, Munday PL, Rummer JL. The effects of constant and fluctuating elevated pCO 2 levels on oxygen uptake rates of coral reef fishes. Sci Total Environ 2020; 741:140334. [PMID: 32603942 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Ocean acidification, resulting from increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, can affect the physiological performance of some fishes. Most studies investigating ocean acidification have used stable pCO2 treatments based on open ocean predictions. However, nearshore systems can experience substantial spatial and temporal variations in pCO2. Notably, coral reefs are known to experience diel fluctuations in pCO2, which are expected to increase on average and in magnitude in the future. Though we know these variations exist, relatively few studies have included fluctuating treatments when examining the effects of ocean acidification conditions on coral reef species. To address this, we exposed two species of damselfishes, Amblyglyphidodon curacao and Acanthochromis polyacanthus, to ambient pCO2, a stable elevated pCO2 treatment, and two fluctuating pCO2 treatments (increasing and decreasing) over an 8 h period. Oxygen uptake rates were measured both while fish were swimming and resting at low-speed. These 8 h periods were followed by an exhaustive swimming test (Ucrit) and blood draw examining swimming metrics and haematological parameters contributing to oxygen transport. When A. polyacanthus were exposed to stable pCO2 conditions (ambient or elevated), they required more energy during the 8 h trial regardless of swimming type than fish exposed to either of the fluctuating pCO2 treatments (increasing or decreasing). These results were reflected in the oxygen uptake rates during the Ucrit tests, where fish exposed to fluctuating pCO2 treatments had a higher factorial aerobic scope than fish exposed to stable pCO2 treatments. By contrast, A. curacao showed no effect of pCO2 treatment on swimming or oxygen uptake metrics. Our results show that responses to stable versus fluctuating pCO2 differ between species - what is stressful for one species many not be stressful for another. Such asymmetries may have population- and community-level impacts under higher more variable pCO2 conditions in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly D Hannan
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.
| | - Philip L Munday
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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Laubenstein TD, Jarrold MD, Rummer JL, Munday PL. Beneficial effects of diel CO 2 cycles on reef fish metabolic performance are diminished under elevated temperature. Sci Total Environ 2020; 735:139084. [PMID: 32480143 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Elevated CO2 levels have been shown to affect metabolic performance in some coral reef fishes. However, all studies to date have employed stable elevated CO2 levels, whereas reef habitats can experience substantial diel fluctuations in pCO2 ranging from ±50 to 600 μatm around the mean, fluctuations that are predicted to increase in magnitude by the end of the century. Additionally, past studies have often investigated the effect of elevated CO2 in isolation, despite the fact that ocean temperatures will increase in tandem with CO2 levels. Here, we tested the effects of stable (1000 μatm) versus diel-cycling (1000 ± 500 μatm) elevated CO2 conditions and elevated temperature (+2 °C) on metabolic traits of juvenile spiny damselfish, Acanthochromis polyacanthus. Resting oxygen uptake rates (ṀO2) were higher in fish exposed to stable elevated CO2 conditions when compared to fish from stable control conditions, but were restored to control levels under diel CO2 fluctuations. However, the benefits of diel CO2 fluctuations were diminished at elevated temperature. Factorial aerobic scope showed a similar pattern, but neither maximal ṀO2 nor absolute aerobic scope was affected by CO2 or temperature. Our results suggest that diel CO2 cycles can ameliorate the increased metabolic cost associated with elevated CO2, but elevated temperature diminishes the benefits of diel CO2 cycles. Thus, previous studies may have misestimated the effect of ocean acidification on the metabolic performance of reef fishes by not accounting for environmental CO2 fluctuations. Our findings provide novel insights into the interacting effects of diel CO2 fluctuations and temperature on the metabolic performance of reef fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taryn D Laubenstein
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.
| | - Michael D Jarrold
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Philip L Munday
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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Allan BJM, Illing B, Fakan EP, Narvaez P, Grutter AS, Sikkel PC, McClure EC, Rummer JL, McCormick MI. Parasite infection directly impacts escape response and stress levels in fish. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb230904. [PMID: 32611788 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.230904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Parasites can account for a substantial proportion of the biomass in marine communities. As such, parasites play a significant ecological role in ecosystem functioning via host interactions. Unlike macropredators, such as large piscivores, micropredators, such as parasites, rarely cause direct mortality. Rather, micropredators impose an energetic tax, thus significantly affecting host physiology and behaviour via sublethal effects. Recent research suggests that infection by gnathiid isopods (Crustacea) causes significant physiological stress and increased mortality rates. However, it is unclear whether infection causes changes in the behaviours that underpin escape responses or changes in routine activity levels. Moreover, it is poorly understood whether the cost of gnathiid infection manifests as an increase in cortisol. To investigate this, we examined the effect of experimental gnathiid infection on the swimming and escape performance of a newly settled coral reef fish and whether infection led to increased cortisol levels. We found that micropredation by a single gnathiid caused fast-start escape performance and swimming behaviour to significantly decrease and cortisol levels to double. Fast-start escape performance is an important predictor of recruit survival in the wild. As such, altered fitness-related traits and short-term stress, perhaps especially during early life stages, may result in large scale changes in the number of fish that successfully recruit to adult populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridie J M Allan
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otāgo, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Department of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Björn Illing
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Eric P Fakan
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Department of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Pauline Narvaez
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Department of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Alexandra S Grutter
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Paul C Sikkel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR 72467, USA
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
| | - Eva C McClure
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Department of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4215, Australia
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Mark I McCormick
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Department of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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Bouyoucos IA, Morrison PR, Weideli OC, Jacquesson E, Planes S, Simpfendorfer CA, Brauner CJ, Rummer JL. Thermal tolerance and hypoxia tolerance are associated in blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) neonates. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:223/14/jeb221937. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.221937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Thermal dependence of growth and metabolism can influence thermal preference and tolerance in marine ectotherms, including threatened and data-deficient species. Here, we quantified the thermal dependence of physiological performance in neonates of a tropical shark species (blacktip reef shark, Carcharhinus melanopterus) from shallow, nearshore habitats. We measured minimum and maximum oxygen uptake rates (ṀO2), calculated aerobic scope, excess post-exercise oxygen consumption and recovery from exercise, and measured critical thermal maxima (CTmax), thermal safety margins, hypoxia tolerance, specific growth rates, body condition and food conversion efficiencies at two ecologically relevant acclimation temperatures (28 and 31°C). Owing to high post-exercise mortality, a third acclimation temperature (33°C) was not investigated further. Acclimation temperature did not affect ṀO2 or growth, but CTmax and hypoxia tolerance were greatest at 31°C and positively associated. We also quantified in vitro temperature (25, 30 and 35°C) and pH effects on haemoglobin–oxygen (Hb–O2) affinity of wild-caught, non-acclimated sharks. As expected, Hb–O2 affinity decreased with increasing temperatures, but pH effects observed at 30°C were absent at 25 and 35°C. Finally, we logged body temperatures of free-ranging sharks and determined that C. melanopterus neonates avoided 31°C in situ. We conclude that C. melanopterus neonates demonstrate minimal thermal dependence of whole-organism physiological performance across a seasonal temperature range and may use behaviour to avoid unfavourable environmental temperatures. The association between thermal tolerance and hypoxia tolerance suggests a common mechanism warranting further investigation. Future research should explore the consequences of ocean warming, especially in nearshore, tropical species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian A. Bouyoucos
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
- PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Phillip R. Morrison
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Ornella C. Weideli
- PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Eva Jacquesson
- PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Serge Planes
- PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence ‘CORAIL’, EPHE, PSL Research University, UPVD, CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Papetoai, Moorea, French Polynesia
| | - Colin A. Simpfendorfer
- Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture & College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Colin J. Brauner
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Jodie L. Rummer
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
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Bernal MA, Schunter C, Lehmann R, Lightfoot DJ, Allan BJM, Veilleux HD, Rummer JL, Munday PL, Ravasi T. Species-specific molecular responses of wild coral reef fishes during a marine heatwave. Sci Adv 2020; 6:eaay3423. [PMID: 32206711 PMCID: PMC7080449 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aay3423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The marine heatwave of 2016 was one of the longest and hottest thermal anomalies recorded on the Great Barrier Reef, influencing multiple species of marine ectotherms, including coral reef fishes. There is a gap in our understanding of what the physiological consequences of heatwaves in wild fish populations are. Thus, in this study, we used liver transcriptomes to understand the molecular response of five species to the 2016 heatwave conditions. Gene expression was species specific, yet we detected overlap in functional responses associated with thermal stress previously reported in experimental setups. The molecular response was also influenced by the duration of exposure to elevated temperatures. This study highlights the importance of considering the effects of extreme warming events when evaluating the consequences of climate change on fish communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moisés A. Bernal
- KAUST Environmental Epigenetic Program (KEEP), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Celia Schunter
- KAUST Environmental Epigenetic Program (KEEP), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Swire Institute of Marine Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Robert Lehmann
- KAUST Environmental Epigenetic Program (KEEP), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Damien J. Lightfoot
- KAUST Environmental Epigenetic Program (KEEP), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Bridie J. M. Allan
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Heather D. Veilleux
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Jodie L. Rummer
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Philip L. Munday
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Timothy Ravasi
- Marine Climate Change Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
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Nay TJ, Johansen JL, Rummer JL, Steffensen JF, Pratchett MS, Hoey AS. Habitat complexity influences selection of thermal environment in a common coral reef fish. Conserv Physiol 2020; 8:coaa070. [PMID: 32864133 PMCID: PMC7448933 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coaa070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Coral reef species, like most tropical species, are sensitive to increasing environmental temperatures, with many species already living close to their thermal maxima. Ocean warming and the increasing frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves are challenging the persistence of reef-associated species through both direct physiological effects of elevated water temperatures and the degradation and loss of habitat structure following disturbance. Understanding the relative importance of habitat degradation and ocean warming in shaping species distributions is critical in predicting the likely biological effects of global warming. Using an automated shuttle box system, we investigated how habitat complexity influences the selection of thermal environments for a common coral reef damselfish, Chromis atripectoralis. In the absence of any habitat (i.e. control), C. atripectoralis avoided temperatures below 22.9 ± 0.8°C and above 31.9 ± 0.6°C, with a preferred temperature (T pref) of 28.1 ± 0.9°C. When complex habitat was available, individual C. atripectoralis occupied temperatures down to 4.3°C lower (mean ± SE; threshold: 18.6 ± 0.7°C; T pref: 18.9 ± 1.0°C) than control fish. Conversely, C. atripectoralis in complex habitats occupied similar upper temperatures as control fish (threshold: 31.7 ± 0.4°C; preference: 28.3 ± 0.7°C). Our results show that the availability of complex habitat can influence the selection of thermal environment by a coral reef fish, but only at temperatures below their thermal preference. The limited scope of C. atripectoralis to occupy warmer environments, even when associated with complex habitat, suggests that habitat restoration efforts in areas that continue to warm may not be effective in retaining populations of C. atripectoralis and similar species. This species may have to move to cooler (e.g. deeper or higher latitude) habitats under predicted future warming. The integration of habitat quality and thermal environment into conservation efforts will be essential to conserve of coral reef fish populations under future ocean warming scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany J Nay
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, James Cook Dr., Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Corresponding author: ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Dr., Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.
| | - Jacob L Johansen
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, 46-007 Lilipuna Rd, Kaneohe, HI 96744, USA
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, James Cook Dr., Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - John F Steffensen
- Marine Biological Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Strandpromenaden 5, Helsingør, 3000, Denmark
| | - Morgan S Pratchett
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, James Cook Dr., Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Andrew S Hoey
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, James Cook Dr., Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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Cooke SJ, Madliger CL, Cramp RL, Beardall J, Burness G, Chown SL, Clark TD, Dantzer B, de la Barrera E, Fangue NA, Franklin CE, Fuller A, Hawkes LA, Hultine KR, Hunt KE, Love OP, MacMillan HA, Mandelman JW, Mark FC, Martin LB, Newman AEM, Nicotra AB, Robinson SA, Ropert-Coudert Y, Rummer JL, Seebacher F, Todgham AE. Reframing conservation physiology to be more inclusive, integrative, relevant and forward-looking: reflections and a horizon scan. Conserv Physiol 2020; 8:coaa016. [PMID: 32274063 PMCID: PMC7125050 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coaa016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Applying physiological tools, knowledge and concepts to understand conservation problems (i.e. conservation physiology) has become commonplace and confers an ability to understand mechanistic processes, develop predictive models and identify cause-and-effect relationships. Conservation physiology is making contributions to conservation solutions; the number of 'success stories' is growing, but there remain unexplored opportunities for which conservation physiology shows immense promise and has the potential to contribute to major advances in protecting and restoring biodiversity. Here, we consider how conservation physiology has evolved with a focus on reframing the discipline to be more inclusive and integrative. Using a 'horizon scan', we further explore ways in which conservation physiology can be more relevant to pressing conservation issues of today (e.g. addressing the Sustainable Development Goals; delivering science to support the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration), as well as more forward-looking to inform emerging issues and policies for tomorrow. Our horizon scan provides evidence that, as the discipline of conservation physiology continues to mature, it provides a wealth of opportunities to promote integration, inclusivity and forward-thinking goals that contribute to achieving conservation gains. To advance environmental management and ecosystem restoration, we need to ensure that the underlying science (such as that generated by conservation physiology) is relevant with accompanying messaging that is straightforward and accessible to end users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Cooke
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
- Corresponding author: Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada.
| | - Christine L Madliger
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Rebecca L Cramp
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia
| | - John Beardall
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Gary Burness
- Department of Biology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON, K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Steven L Chown
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Timothy D Clark
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria 14 3216, Australia
| | - Ben Dantzer
- Department of Psychology, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Erick de la Barrera
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Morelia, Michoacán, 58190, Mexico
| | - Nann A Fangue
- Department of Wildlife, Fish & Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Craig E Franklin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia
| | - Andrea Fuller
- Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Rd, Parktown, 2193, South Africa
| | - Lucy A Hawkes
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hatherly Laboratories, University of Exeter, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter, EX4 4PS, UK
| | - Kevin R Hultine
- Department of Research, Conservation and Collections, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA
| | - Kathleen E Hunt
- Department of Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
| | - Oliver P Love
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Heath A MacMillan
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - John W Mandelman
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110, USA
| | - Felix C Mark
- Department of Integrative Ecophysiology, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27574 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Lynn B Martin
- Global Health and Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Amy E M Newman
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Adrienne B Nicotra
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Sharon A Robinson
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences (SEALS) and Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Yan Ropert-Coudert
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS UMR 7372 - La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 5811, Australia
| | - Frank Seebacher
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences A08, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Anne E Todgham
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, One Shields Ave. Davis, CA, 95616, USA
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Schwieterman GD, Bouyoucos IA, Potgieter K, Simpfendorfer CA, Brill RW, Rummer JL. Analysing tropical elasmobranch blood samples in the field: blood stability during storage and validation of the HemoCue® haemoglobin analyser. Conserv Physiol 2019; 7:coz081. [PMID: 31803471 PMCID: PMC6883209 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coz081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Blood samples collected from wild-caught fishes can provide important information regarding the effects of capture (and thus post-release survival) as well as other stressors. Unfortunately, blood samples often cannot be analysed immediately upon sampling, and blood parameters (e.g. blood oxygen levels and acid-base parameters) are known to change with storage duration due to the metabolic activity of the red blood cells. We obtained blood samples from both untreated and stressed individuals of both blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) and sicklefin lemon shark (Negaprion acutidens) to determine the effects of storage duration on blood pH, haematocrit and haemoglobin concentration ([Hb]). We found no significant effects after storage on ice for up to 180 minutes. Moreover, to validate the usability of a HemoCue haemoglobin analyser (a point-of-care device), we compared data from this device to [Hb] determined using the cyanomethaemoglobin method with blood samples from 10 individuals from each of the aforementioned species as well as epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum). Values from the HemoCue consistently overestimated [Hb], and we therefore developed the necessary correction equations. The correction equations were not statistically different among the three elasmobranch species within the biologically relevant range but did differ from published corrections developed using blood from temperate teleost fishes. Although the HemoCue is useful in field situations, development of species-specific calibration equations may be necessary to ensure the reliability of inter-species comparisons of blood [Hb]. Together, these data should increase confidence in haematological stress indicators in elasmobranch fishes, measurements of which are critical for understanding the impact of anthropogenic stressors on these ecologically important species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gail D Schwieterman
- Department of Fisheries Science, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, USA
| | - Ian A Bouyoucos
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, Perpignan Cedex 66860, France
| | - Kristy Potgieter
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Colin A Simpfendorfer
- Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Richard W Brill
- Department of Fisheries Science, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, USA
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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Spady BL, Nay TJ, Rummer JL, Munday PL, Watson SA. Aerobic performance of two tropical cephalopod species unaltered by prolonged exposure to projected future carbon dioxide levels. Conserv Physiol 2019; 7:coz024. [PMID: 31198560 PMCID: PMC6554595 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coz024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Squid and many other cephalopods live continuously on the threshold of their environmental oxygen limitations. If the abilities of squid to effectively take up oxygen are negatively affected by projected future carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in ways similar to those demonstrated in some fish and invertebrates, it could affect the success of squid in future oceans. While there is evidence that acute exposure to elevated CO2 has adverse effects on cephalopod respiratory performance, no studies have investigated this in an adult cephalopod after relatively prolonged exposure to elevated CO2 or determined any effects on aerobic scope. Here, we tested the effects of prolonged exposure (≥20% of lifespan) to elevated CO2 levels (~1000 μatm) on the routine and maximal oxygen uptake rates, aerobic scope and recovery time of two tropical cephalopod species, the two-toned pygmy squid, Idiosepius pygmaeus and the bigfin reef squid, Sepioteuthis lessoniana. Neither species exhibited evidence of altered aerobic performance after exposure to elevated CO2 when compared to individuals held at control conditions. The recovery time of I. pygmaeus under both control and elevated CO2 conditions was less than 1 hour, whereas S. lessoniana required approximately 8 hours to recover fully following maximal aerobic performance. This difference in recovery time may be due to the more sedentary behaviours of I. pygmaeus. The ability of these two cephalopod species to cope with prolonged exposure to elevated CO2 without detriment to their aerobic performance suggests some resilience to an increasingly high CO2 world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blake L Spady
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Tiffany J Nay
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Philip L Munday
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Sue-Ann Watson
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- Biodiversity and Geosciences Program, Museum of Tropical Queensland, Queensland Museum, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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Laubenstein TD, Rummer JL, McCormick MI, Munday PL. A negative correlation between behavioural and physiological performance under ocean acidification and warming. Sci Rep 2019; 9:4265. [PMID: 30862781 PMCID: PMC6414711 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36747-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Many studies have examined the average effects of ocean acidification and warming on phenotypic traits of reef fishes, finding variable, but often negative effects on behavioural and physiological performance. Yet the presence and nature of a relationship between these traits is unknown. A negative relationship between phenotypic traits could limit individual performance and even the capacity of populations to adapt to climate change. Here, we examined the relationship between behavioural and physiological performance of a juvenile reef fish under elevated CO2 and temperature in a full factorial design. Behaviourally, the response to an alarm odour was negatively affected by elevated CO2, but not elevated temperature. Physiologically, aerobic scope was significantly diminished under elevated temperature, but not under elevated CO2. At the individual level, there was no relationship between behavioural and physiological traits in the control and single-stressor treatments. However, a statistically significant negative relationship was detected between the traits in the combined elevated CO2 and temperature treatment. Our results demonstrate that trade-offs in performance between behavioural and physiological traits may only be evident when multiple climate change stressors are considered, and suggest that this negative relationship could limit adaptive potential to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taryn D Laubenstein
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Mark I McCormick
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Philip L Munday
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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36
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Rodgers GG, Rummer JL, Johnson LK, McCormick MI. Impacts of increased ocean temperatures on a low-latitude coral reef fish - Processes related to oxygen uptake and delivery. J Therm Biol 2019; 79:95-102. [PMID: 30612692 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2018] [Revised: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 12/09/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Increasing temperatures are expected to significantly affect the physiological performance of ectotherms, particularly in tropical locations. The shape of an organism's thermal reaction norm can provide important information on its capacity to persist under climate change scenarios; however, difficulty lies in choosing a measurable trait that best depicts physiological performance. This study investigated the effects of elevated temperatures on processes related to oxygen uptake and delivery, including oxygen consumption, haematology, and tissue health for a low-latitude population of coral reef damselfish. Acanthochromis polyacanthus were collected from the Torres Strait (10°31-46'S, 142°20-35'E) and maintained at current average ocean temperatures (+0 °C; seasonally cycling), + 1.5 °C and + 3 °C higher than present day temperatures for 10 months. Aerobic performance indicated a limit to metabolic function at + 3 °C (33 °C), following an increase in aerobic capacity at + 1.5 °C (31.5 °C). Neither haematological parameters nor gill morphology showed the same improvement in performance at + 1.5 °C. Gill histopathology provided the first indicator of a decline in organism health, which corresponded with mortality observations from previous research. Findings from this study suggest thermal specialisation in this low-latitude population as well as variation in thermal sensitivity, depending on the physiological trait.
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Affiliation(s)
- G G Rodgers
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.
| | - J L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - L K Johnson
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - M I McCormick
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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Nay TJ, Gervais CR, Hoey AS, Johansen JL, Steffensen JF, Rummer JL. The emergence emergency: A mudskipper's response to temperatures. J Therm Biol 2018; 78:65-72. [PMID: 30509669 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Revised: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/08/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Temperature has a profound effect on all life and a particularly influential effect on ectotherms, such as fishes. Amphibious fishes have a variety of strategies, both physiological and/or behavioural, to cope with a broad range of thermal conditions. This study examined the relationship between prolonged (5 weeks) exposure to a range of temperatures (22, 25, 28, or 32 °C) on oxygen uptake rate and movement behaviours (i.e., thermoregulation and emergence) in a common amphibious fish, the barred mudskipper (Periophthalmus argentilneatuis). At the highest temperature examined (32 °C, approximately 5 °C above their summer average temperatures), barred mudskippers exhibited 33.7-97.7% greater oxygen uptake rates at rest (ṀO2Rest), emerged at a higher temperature (CTe; i.e., a modified critical thermal maxima (CTMax) methodology) of 41.3 ± 0.3 °C relative to those maintained at 28, 25, or 22 °C. The 32 °C-maintained fish also ceased movement activity at the highest holding temperature suggesting that prolonged submergence at elevated temperatures is physiologically and energetically stressful to the individual. Using exhaustive exercise protocols with and without air exposure to simulate a predatory chase, the time to recovery was examined for all individuals. When submerged, mudskippers required 2.5x longer recovery time to return to resting oxygen uptake from exhaustive exercise than those fully emerged in air. Oxygen uptake data revealed that air exposure did not accrue oxygen debt, thereby allowing faster return to resting oxygen consumption rates. If the option to emerge was not available, mudskippers preferentially sought more benign water temperatures (26.7 ± 2.1 °C), resembling those experienced by these fish during the Austral autumn, regardless of prolonged exposure higher or lower temperatures. These results add to our understanding of the strategies that amphibious fishes may use to mitigate extra costs associated with living in warm waters, and could be the key to understanding how such species will cope with increasing temperatures in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany J Nay
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia.
| | - Connor R Gervais
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Andrew S Hoey
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
| | - Jacob L Johansen
- Department of Biology, New York University-Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - John F Steffensen
- Marine Biological Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Strandpromenaden 5, 3000 Helsingør, Denmark
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
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Bouyoucos IA, Weideli OC, Planes S, Simpfendorfer CA, Rummer JL. Dead tired: evaluating the physiological status and survival of neonatal reef sharks under stress. Conserv Physiol 2018; 6:coy053. [PMID: 30254751 PMCID: PMC6142904 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coy053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2018] [Revised: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Marine protected areas (MPAs) can protect shark populations from targeted fisheries, but resident shark populations may remain exposed to stressors like capture as bycatch and environmental change. Populations of young sharks that rely on shallow coastal habitats, e.g. as nursery areas, may be at risk of experiencing these stressors. The purpose of this study was to characterize various components of the physiological stress response of neonatal reef sharks following exposure to an exhaustive challenge under relevant environmental conditions. To accomplish this, we monitored markers of the secondary stress response and measured oxygen uptake rates ( M˙O2 ) to compare to laboratory-derived baseline values in neonatal blacktip reef (Carcharhinus melanopterus) and sicklefin lemon sharks (Negaprion acutidens). Measurements occurred over three hours following exposure to an exhaustive challenge (gill-net capture with air exposure). Blood lactate concentrations and pH deviated from baseline values at the 3-h sample, indicating that both species were still stressed 3 h after capture. Evidence of a temperature effect on physiological status of either species was equivocal over 28-31°C. However, aspects of the physiological response were species-specific; N. acutidens exhibited a larger difference in blood pH relative to baseline values than C. melanopterus, possibly owing to higher minimum M˙O2 . Neither species experienced immediate mortality during the exhaustive challenge; although, single instances of delayed mortality were documented for each species. Energetic costs and recovery times could be extrapolated for C. melanopterus via respirometry; sharks were estimated to expend 9.9 kJ kg-1 (15% of energy expended on daily swimming) for a single challenge and could require 8.4 h to recover. These data suggest that neonatal C. melanopterus and N. acutidens are resilient to brief gill-net capture durations, but this was under a narrow temperature range. Defining species' vulnerability to stressors is important for understanding the efficacy of shark conservation tools, including MPAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian A Bouyoucos
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Ornella C Weideli
- PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Serge Planes
- PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, Perpignan Cedex, France
- Laboratoire d’Excellence “CORAIL”, EPHE, PSL Research University, UPVD, CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Papetoai, Moorea, French Polynesia
| | - Colin A Simpfendorfer
- Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture & College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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Lopes AR, Sampaio E, Santos C, Couto A, Pegado MR, Diniz M, Munday PL, Rummer JL, Rosa R. Absence of cellular damage in tropical newly hatched sharks (Chiloscyllium plagiosum) under ocean acidification conditions. Cell Stress Chaperones 2018; 23:837-846. [PMID: 29582345 PMCID: PMC6111099 DOI: 10.1007/s12192-018-0892-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Sharks have maintained a key role in marine food webs for 400 million years and across varying physicochemical contexts, suggesting plasticity to environmental change. In this study, we investigated the biochemical effects of ocean acidification (OA) levels predicted for 2100 (pCO2 ~ 900 μatm) on newly hatched tropical whitespotted bamboo sharks (Chiloscyllium plagiosum). Specifically, we measured lipid, protein, and DNA damage levels, as well as changes in the activity of antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymatic ROS scavengers in juvenile sharks exposed to elevated CO2 for 50 days following hatching. Moreover, we also assessed the secondary oxidative stress response, i.e., heat shock response and ubiquitin levels. Newly hatched sharks appear to cope with OA-related stress through a range of tissue-specific biochemical strategies, specifically through the action of antioxidant enzymatic compounds. Our findings suggest that ROS-scavenging molecules, rather than complex enzymatic proteins, provide an effective defense mechanism in dealing with OA-elicited ROS formation. We argue that sharks' ancient antioxidant system, strongly based on non-enzymatic antioxidants (e.g., urea), may provide them with resilience towards OA, potentially beyond the tolerance of more recently evolved species, i.e., teleosts. Nevertheless, previous research has provided evidence of detrimental effects of OA (interacting with other climate-related stressors) on some aspects of shark biology. Moreover, given that long-term acclimation and adaptive potential to rapid environmental changes are yet experimentally unaccounted for, future research is warranted to accurately predict shark physiological performance under future ocean conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rita Lopes
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Nossa Senhora do Cabo 939, 2750-374, Cascais, Portugal.
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Quinta da Torre, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal.
| | - Eduardo Sampaio
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Nossa Senhora do Cabo 939, 2750-374, Cascais, Portugal
| | - Catarina Santos
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Nossa Senhora do Cabo 939, 2750-374, Cascais, Portugal
| | - Ana Couto
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Nossa Senhora do Cabo 939, 2750-374, Cascais, Portugal
| | - Maria Rita Pegado
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Nossa Senhora do Cabo 939, 2750-374, Cascais, Portugal
| | - Mário Diniz
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Quinta da Torre, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Philip L Munday
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Rui Rosa
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Nossa Senhora do Cabo 939, 2750-374, Cascais, Portugal
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Hess S, Prescott LJ, Hoey AS, McMahon SA, Wenger AS, Rummer JL. Species-specific impacts of suspended sediments on gill structure and function in coral reef fishes. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 284:rspb.2017.1279. [PMID: 29093217 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.1279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Reduced water quality, in particular increases in suspended sediments, has been linked to declines in fish abundance on coral reefs. Changes in gill structure induced by suspended sediments have been hypothesized to impair gill function and may provide a mechanistic basis for the observed declines; yet, evidence for this is lacking. We exposed juveniles of three reef fish species (Amphiprion melanopus, Amphiprion percula and Acanthochromis polyacanthus) to suspended sediments (0-180 mg l-1) for 7 days and examined changes in gill structure and metabolic performance (i.e. oxygen consumption). Exposure to suspended sediments led to shorter gill lamellae in A. melanopus and A. polyacanthus and reduced oxygen diffusion distances in all three species. While A. melanopus exhibited impaired oxygen uptake after suspended sediment exposure, i.e. decreased maximum and increased resting oxygen consumption rates resulting in decreased aerobic scope, the oxygen consumption rates of the other two species remained unaffected. These findings imply that species sensitive to changes in gill structure such as A. melanopus may decline in abundance as reefs become more turbid, whereas species that are able to maintain metabolic performance despite suspended sediment exposure, such as A. polyacanthus or A. percula, may be able to persist or gain a competitive advantage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sybille Hess
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Townsville, 4811 Queensland, Australia .,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, 4811 Queensland, Australia
| | - Leteisha J Prescott
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Townsville, 4811 Queensland, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, 4811 Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrew S Hoey
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Townsville, 4811 Queensland, Australia
| | - Shannon A McMahon
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Townsville, 4811 Queensland, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, 4811 Queensland, Australia
| | - Amelia S Wenger
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072 Queensland, Australia
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Townsville, 4811 Queensland, Australia
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Jain-Schlaepfer S, Fakan E, Rummer JL, Simpson SD, McCormick MI. Impact of motorboats on fish embryos depends on engine type. Conserv Physiol 2018; 6:coy014. [PMID: 29593871 PMCID: PMC5865524 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coy014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Human generated noise is changing the natural underwater soundscapes worldwide. The most pervasive sources of underwater anthropogenic noise are motorboats, which have been found to negatively affect several aspects of fish biology. However, few studies have examined the effects of noise on early life stages, especially the embryonic stage, despite embryo health being critical to larval survival and recruitment. Here, we used a novel setup to monitor heart rates of embryos from the staghorn damselfish (Amblyglyphidodon curacao) in shallow reef conditions, allowing us to examine the effects of in situ boat noise in context with real-world exposure. We found that the heart rate of embryos increased in the presence of boat noise, which can be associated with the stress response. Additionally, we found 2-stroke outboard-powered boats had more than twice the effect on embryo heart rates than did 4-stroke powered boats, showing an increase in mean individual heart rate of 1.9% and 4.6%, respectively. To our knowledge this is the first evidence suggesting boat noise elicits a stress response in fish embryo and highlights the need to explore the ecological ramifications of boat noise stress during the embryo stage. Also, knowing the response of marine organisms caused by the sound emissions of particular engine types provides an important tool for reef managers to mitigate noise pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Jain-Schlaepfer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Eric Fakan
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Stephen D Simpson
- Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Mark I McCormick
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
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Hannan KD, Rummer JL. Aquatic acidification: a mechanism underpinning maintained oxygen transport and performance in fish experiencing elevated carbon dioxide conditions. J Exp Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.154559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Aquatic acidification, caused by elevating levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), is increasing in both freshwater and marine ecosystems worldwide. However, few studies have examined how acidification will affect oxygen (O2) transport and, therefore, performance in fishes. Although data are generally lacking, the majority of fishes investigated in this meta-analysis exhibited no effect of elevated CO2 at the level of O2 uptake, suggesting that they are able to maintain metabolic performance during a period of acidosis. Notably, the mechanisms that fish employ to maintain performance and O2 uptake have yet to be verified. Here, we summarize current data related to one recently proposed mechanism underpinning the maintenance of O2 uptake during exposure to aquatic acidification, and reveal knowledge gaps that could be targeted for future research. Most studies have examined O2 uptake rates while fishes were resting and did not calculate aerobic scope, even though aerobic scope can aid in predicting changes to whole-animal metabolic performance. Furthermore, research is lacking on different age classes, freshwater species and elasmobranchs, all of which might be impacted by future acidification conditions. Finally, this Review further seeks to emphasize the importance of developing collaborative efforts between molecular, physiological and ecological approaches in order to provide more comprehensive predictions as to how future fish populations will be affected by climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly D. Hannan
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Jodie L. Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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Tomlinson S, Rummer JL, Hultine KR, Cooke SJ. Crossing boundaries in conservation physiology. Conserv Physiol 2018; 6:coy015. [PMID: 29593872 PMCID: PMC5865528 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coy015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sean Tomlinson
- School of Molecular & Life Sciences, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley Western Australia 6102, Australia
- Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions, Kings Park Science, Kattij Place, Kings Park, Western Australia 6005, Australia
- Corresponding author: Tel: +61 894803923.
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Dr, Douglas Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Kevin R Hultine
- Department of Research, Conservation and Collections, Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA
| | - Steven J Cooke
- Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science, Canadian Centre for Evidence-Based Conservation and Environmental Management, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
- Department of Biology, Fish Ecology and Q2 Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
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Abstract
Sharks play a key role in the structure of marine food webs, but are facing major threats due to overfishing and habitat degradation. Although sharks are also assumed to be at relatively high risk from climate change due to a low intrinsic rate of population growth and slow rates of evolution, ocean acidification (OA) has not, until recently, been considered a direct threat. New studies have been evaluating the potential effects of end-of-century elevated CO2 levels on sharks and their relatives' early development, physiology and behaviour. Here, we review those findings and use a meta-analysis approach to quantify the overall direction and magnitude of biological responses to OA in the species of sharks that have been investigated to date. While embryo survival and development time are mostly unaffected by elevated CO2, there are clear effects on body condition, growth, aerobic potential and behaviour (e.g. lateralization, hunting and prey detection). Furthermore, studies to date suggest that the effects of OA could be as substantial as those due to warming in some species. A major limitation is that all past studies have involved relatively sedentary, benthic sharks that are capable of buccal ventilation-no studies have investigated pelagic sharks that depend on ram ventilation. Future research should focus on species with different life strategies (e.g. pelagic, ram ventilators), climate zones (e.g. polar regions), habitats (e.g. open ocean), and distinct phases of ontogeny in order to fully predict how OA and climate change will impact higher-order predators and therefore marine ecosystem dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Rosa
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Nossa Senhora do Cabo 939, 2750-374 Cascais, Portugal
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Philip L Munday
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
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Ern R, Johansen JL, Rummer JL, Esbaugh AJ. Effects of hypoxia and ocean acidification on the upper thermal niche boundaries of coral reef fishes. Biol Lett 2017; 13:rsbl.2017.0135. [PMID: 28701471 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2017.0135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Rising ocean temperatures are predicted to cause a poleward shift in the distribution of marine fishes occupying the extent of latitudes tolerable within their thermal range boundaries. A prevailing theory suggests that the upper thermal limits of fishes are constrained by hypoxia and ocean acidification. However, some eurythermal fish species do not conform to this theory, and maintain their upper thermal limits in hypoxia. Here we determine if the same is true for stenothermal species. In three coral reef fish species we tested the effect of hypoxia on upper thermal limits, measured as critical thermal maximum (CTmax). In one of these species we also quantified the effect of hypoxia on oxygen supply capacity, measured as aerobic scope (AS). In this species we also tested the effect of elevated CO2 (simulated ocean acidification) on the hypoxia sensitivity of CTmax We found that CTmax was unaffected by progressive hypoxia down to approximately 35 mmHg, despite a substantial hypoxia-induced reduction in AS. Below approximately 35 mmHg, CTmax declined sharply with water oxygen tension (PwO2). Furthermore, the hypoxia sensitivity of CTmax was unaffected by elevated CO2 Our findings show that moderate hypoxia and ocean acidification do not constrain the upper thermal limits of these tropical, stenothermal fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasmus Ern
- Marine Science Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, TX, USA
| | - Jacob L Johansen
- Marine Science Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, TX, USA
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrew J Esbaugh
- Marine Science Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, TX, USA
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Cooke SJ, Birnie-Gauvin K, Lennox RJ, Taylor JJ, Rytwinski T, Rummer JL, Franklin CE, Bennett JR, Haddaway NR. How experimental biology and ecology can support evidence-based decision-making in conservation: avoiding pitfalls and enabling application. Conserv Physiol 2017; 5:cox043. [PMID: 28835842 PMCID: PMC5550808 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cox043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Revised: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/15/2017] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Policy development and management decisions should be based upon the best available evidence. In recent years, approaches to evidence synthesis, originating in the medical realm (such as systematic reviews), have been applied to conservation to promote evidence-based conservation and environmental management. Systematic reviews involve a critical appraisal of evidence, but studies that lack the necessary rigour (e.g. experimental, technical and analytical aspects) to justify their conclusions are typically excluded from systematic reviews or down-weighted in terms of their influence. One of the strengths of conservation physiology is the reliance on experimental approaches that help to more clearly establish cause-and-effect relationships. Indeed, experimental biology and ecology have much to offer in terms of building the evidence base that is needed to inform policy and management options related to pressing issues such as enacting endangered species recovery plans or evaluating the effectiveness of conservation interventions. Here, we identify a number of pitfalls that can prevent experimental findings from being relevant to conservation or would lead to their exclusion or down-weighting during critical appraisal in a systematic review. We conclude that conservation physiology is well positioned to support evidence-based conservation, provided that experimental designs are robust and that conservation physiologists understand the nuances associated with informing decision-making processes so that they can be more relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J. Cooke
- Canadian Centre for Evidence-Based Conservation and Environmental Management, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Kim Birnie-Gauvin
- Canadian Centre for Evidence-Based Conservation and Environmental Management, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Robert J. Lennox
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Jessica J. Taylor
- Canadian Centre for Evidence-Based Conservation and Environmental Management, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Trina Rytwinski
- Canadian Centre for Evidence-Based Conservation and Environmental Management, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Jodie L. Rummer
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Craig E. Franklin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Joseph R. Bennett
- Canadian Centre for Evidence-Based Conservation and Environmental Management, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Neal R. Haddaway
- EviEM, Stockholm Environment Institute, Box 24218, 10451 Stockholm, Sweden
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Johansen JL, Allan BJM, Rummer JL, Esbaugh AJ. Oil exposure disrupts early life-history stages of coral reef fishes via behavioural impairments. Nat Ecol Evol 2017; 1:1146-1152. [DOI: 10.1038/s41559-017-0232-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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Talwar B, Bouyoucos IA, Shipley O, Rummer JL, Mandelman JW, Brooks EJ, Grubbs RD. Validation of a portable, waterproof blood pH analyser for elasmobranchs. Conserv Physiol 2017; 5:cox012. [PMID: 28616238 PMCID: PMC5463720 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cox012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Revised: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Quantifying changes in blood chemistry in elasmobranchs can provide insights into the physiological insults caused by anthropogenic stress, and can ultimately inform conservation and management strategies. Current methods for analysing elasmobranch blood chemistry in the field are often costly and logistically challenging. We compared blood pH values measured using a portable, waterproof pH meter (Hanna Instruments HI 99161) with blood pH values measured by an i-STAT system (CG4+ cartridges), which was previously validated for teleost and elasmobranch fishes, to gauge the accuracy of the pH meter in determining whole blood pH for the Cuban dogfish (Squalus cubensis) and lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris). There was a significant linear relationship between values derived via the pH meter and the i-STAT for both species across a wide range of pH values and temperatures (Cuban dogfish: 6.8-7.1 pH 24-30°C; lemon sharks: 7.0-7.45 pH 25-31°C). The relative error in the pH meter's measurements was ~±2.7%. Using this device with appropriate correction factors and consideration of calibration temperatures can result in both a rapid and accurate assessment of whole blood pH, at least for the two elasmobranch species examined here. Additional species should be examined in the future across a wide range of temperatures to determine whether correction factors are universal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan Talwar
- Coastal and Marine Laboratory, Florida State University, St. Teresa, FL 32358, USA
| | - Ian A. Bouyoucos
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Oliver Shipley
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11790, USA
| | - Jodie L. Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - John W. Mandelman
- John H. Prescott Marine Laboratory, New England Aquarium, Boston, MA 02110, USA
| | - Edward J. Brooks
- Shark Research and Conservation Program, Cape Eleuthera Institute, Rock Sound, The Bahamas
| | - R. Dean Grubbs
- Coastal and Marine Laboratory, Florida State University, St. Teresa, FL 32358, USA
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Rummer JL. What if you can't sense your enemy… and your enemy is an invasive predator? Conserv Physiol 2017; 5:cox011. [PMID: 28852511 PMCID: PMC5570056 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cox011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jodie L. Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811,Australia
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Illing B, Rummer JL. Physiology can contribute to better understanding, management, and conservation of coral reef fishes. Conserv Physiol 2017; 5:cox005. [PMID: 28852508 PMCID: PMC5570121 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cox005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Revised: 12/27/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Coral reef fishes, like many other marine organisms, are affected by anthropogenic stressors such as fishing and pollution and, owing to climate change, are experiencing increasing water temperatures and ocean acidification. Against the backdrop of these various stressors, a mechanistic understanding of processes governing individual organismal performance is the first step for identifying drivers of coral reef fish population dynamics. In fact, physiological measurements can help to reveal potential cause-and-effect relationships and enable physiologists to advise conservation management by upscaling results from cellular and individual organismal levels to population levels. Here, we highlight studies that include physiological measurements of coral reef fishes and those that give advice for their conservation. A literature search using combined physiological, conservation and coral reef fish key words resulted in ~1900 studies, of which only 99 matched predefined requirements. We observed that, over the last 20 years, the combination of physiological and conservation aspects in studies on coral reef fishes has received increased attention. Most of the selected studies made their physiological observations at the whole organism level and used their findings to give conservation advice on population dynamics, habitat use or the potential effects of climate change. The precision of the recommendations differed greatly and, not surprisingly, was least concrete when studies examined the effects of projected climate change scenarios. Although more and more physiological studies on coral reef fishes include conservation aspects, there is still a lack of concrete advice for conservation managers, with only very few published examples of physiological findings leading to improved management practices. We conclude with a call to action to foster better knowledge exchange between natural scientists and conservation managers to translate physiological findings more effectively in order to obtain evidence-based and adaptive management strategies for the conservation of coral reef fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn Illing
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Institute of Hydrobiology and Fisheries Science, University of Hamburg, Hamburg D-22767, Germany
| | - Jodie L. Rummer
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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