The effect of climate change on the escape kinematics and performance of fishes: implications for future predator-prey interactions

Integrated behavioural and physiological responses of sand smelt larvae to the effects of warming and hypoxia as combined stressors

Forecasts indicate that rising temperatures towards the future and the expansion of dead zones will change environmental suitability for fish early stages. Therefore, we assessed the chronic effects of warming (26 °C), hypoxia (<2-2.5 mg L-1) or their combination on mortality rate, growth, behaviour, energy metabolism and oxidative stress using Atherina presbyter larvae as a model species. There were no differences between the treatments in terms of mortality rate. The combination of warming and hypoxia induced faster loss of body mass (+22.7%). Warming, hypoxia or their combination enhanced boldness (+14.7-25.4%), but decreased exploration (-95%-121%), increased the time in frozen state (+60.6-80.5%) and depleted swimming speed (-45.6-50.5%). Moreover, routine metabolic rate was depleted under hypoxia or under the combination of warming and hypoxia (-56.6 and 57.2%, respectively). Under hypoxia, increased catalase activity (+56.3%) indicates some level of antioxidant defence capacity, although increased DNA damage (+25.2%) has also been observed. Larvae also exhibited a great capacity to maintain the anaerobic metabolism stable in all situations, but the aerobic metabolism is enhanced (+19.3%) when exposed to the combination of both stressors. The integrative approach showed that changes in most target responses can be explained physiologically by oxidative stress responses. Increased oxidative damages (lipid peroxidation and DNA damage) and increased interaction between antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) are associated to increased time in frozen state and decreased swimming activity, growth rates and boldness. Under all stressful situations, larvae reduced energy-consuming behaviours (e.g. depleted exploration and swimming activity) likely to stabilize or compensate for the aerobic and anaerobic metabolisms. Despite being an active small pelagic fish, we concluded that the sensitive larval phase exhibited complex coping strategies to physiologically acclimate under thermal and hypoxic stress via behavioural responses.

Acclimation to warming but not hypoxia alters thermal tolerance and metabolic sensitivity in an estuarine crustacean

Coastal species are challenged by multiple anthropogenic stressors. Plasticity may buffer the effects of environmental change, but investigation has largely been restricted to single-stressor performance. Multistressor studies have often been short-term and relatively less is known about the consequences of plasticity under one stressor for performance under another. Here, we aimed to test for the effects of thermal or hypoxic acclimation on thermal tolerance in the amphipod Gammarus chevreuxi. Animals were chronically exposed to raised temperature or hypoxia prior to determination of upper thermal limits and routine metabolic rate (RMR). Warm acclimation increased all metrics of thermal tolerance, but hypoxic acclimation had no effect. Different responses to the two stressors was also observed for the thermal sensitivity of RMR. Consequently, this species possesses the ability to increase thermal tolerance via plasticity in response to chronic warming but increasing duration of hypoxic episodes will not confer cross-tolerance to a warming environment.

Multiple environmental stressors affect predation pressure in a tropical freshwater system

Environmental change can alter predator-prey dynamics. However, studying predators in the context of co-occurring environmental stressors remains rare, especially under field conditions. Using in situ filming, we examined how multiple stressors, including temperature and turbidity, impact the distribution and behaviour of wild fish predators of Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata). The measured environmental variables accounted for 17.6% of variance in predator species composition. While predator species differed in their associations with environmental variables, the overall prevalence of predators was greatest in slow flowing, deeper, warmer and less turbid habitats. Moreover, these warmer and less turbid habitats were associated with earlier visits to the prey stimulus by predators, and more frequent predator visits and attacks. Our findings highlight the need to consider ecological complexity, such as co-occurring stressors, to better understand how environmental change affects predator-prey interactions.

Annual changes of Neohelice granulata cognitive abilities indicate opposition between short- and long-term memory retention

Neohelice is a long-standing model for memory studies for its strong retention of a reduced escape response when trained to iterative presentations of a visual danger stimulus (VDS). Here we present year-round changes that are related to the memory acquisition, storage, and expression. First, we evaluated exploratory activity and response to the VDS, as necessary for memory acquisition and expression. Both parameters change year-round. Second, short-term memory (STM) and two types of long-term memory (LTM) were assessed throughout the year. STM and long-term context-dependent signal memory (CSM) change between periods of the year, whereas signal memory (SM) does not, indicating that the cognitive abilities of the crab display circannual rhythms. Third, during the reproductive period, STM retention is higher than both CSM and SM, indicating a trade-off between STM and LTM. This is the first report of memory retention abilities changing seasonally as a trade-off between short- and long-term memories.

Behavioural responses of fishes to anthropogenic disturbances: Adaptive value and ecological consequences

Aquatic ecosystems are changing at an accelerating rate because of human activities. The changes alter the abundance and distribution of fishes, with potential consequences for ecosystem structure and function. Behavioural responses often underlie these changes in population dynamics, such as altered habitat choice or foraging activity. Here, we present a framework for understanding how and why behaviour is affected by human activities and how the behavioural responses in turn influence higher ecological levels. We further review the literature to assess the present state of the field and identify gaps in our knowledge. We begin with discussing the factors that determine how an individual responds to a change in the environment and whether the response is adaptive or not. In particular, we explain the importance of the evolutionary history of the species. We then search the literature to assess our current knowledge of the impact of human disturbances on the behaviour of fishes and the consequences for ecosystems. The search reveals that much attention has been directed to the impact of human activities on the behaviour of fishes, but that worryingly little is known about the consequences of these responses for populations, communities and ecosystems. Yet, behavioural responses can have profound ecological consequences given that behaviour underly many, if not most, species interactions. Thus, more attention should be paid to the mechanisms and pathways through which behavioural responses influence higher ecological levels. Such information is needed if we are to determine the ultimate effects of human activities on biodiversity and the function and stability of aquatic ecosystems.

Intraspecific variation in muscle growth of two distinct populations of Port Jackson sharks under projected end-of-century temperatures

Although pervasive, the effects of climate change vary regionally, possibly resulting in differential behavioral, physiological, and/or phenotypic responses among populations within broadly distributed species. Juvenile Port Jackson sharks (Heterodontus portusjacksoni) from eastern and southern Australia were reared at their current (17.6 °C Adelaide, South Australia [SA]; 20.6 °C Jervis Bay, New South Wales [NSW]) or projected end-of-century (EOC) temperatures (20.6 °C Adelaide, SA; 23.6 °C Jervis Bay, NSW) and assessed for morphological features of skeletal muscle tissue. Nearly all skeletal muscle properties including cellularity, fiber size, myonuclear domain, and satellite cell density did not differ between locations and thermal regimes. However, capillary density was significantly influenced by thermal treatment, where Adelaide sharks raised at current temperatures had a lower capillarity than Jervis Bay sharks raised at ambient or projected EOC temperatures. This may indicate higher metabolic costs at elevated temperatures. However, our results suggest that regardless of the population, juvenile Port Jackson sharks may have limited acclimatory potential to alter muscle metabolic features under a temperature increase, which may make this species vulnerable to climate change.

Acute noise is harmful on the anti-predator behaviour of commercially important juvenile coral reef fishes

Fish stock enhancement has been utilised in Taiwan for more than 30 years, yet the impacts of anthropogenic noise on the enhancement programs remain unknown. Anthropogenic noise can induce physiological and behavioural changes in many marine fishes. Therefore, we investigated the effects of acute boat noise (from stock enhancement release sites) and chronic noise (from aquaculture processes) on the anti-predator behaviour in three juvenile reef fishes: Epinephelus coioides, Amphiprion ocellaris and Neoglyphidodon melas. We exposed fish to aquaculture noise, boat noise and a combination of both, followed by a predator scare and documented kinematic variables (response latency, response distance, response speed and response duration). For the grouper E. coioides, their response latency decreased in the presence of acute noise, while their response duration increased in the presence of both chronic and acute noise. Among the anemonefish A. ocellaris, all variables remained unaffected by chronic noise, whereas acute noise increased the response distance and response speed. In the case of the black damselfish N. melas, chronic noise decreased the response speed, while acute noise decreased the response latency and response duration. Our results indicate that acute noise had a stronger influence on anti-predator behaviour than chronic noise. This study suggests that acute noise levels at restocking release sites can impact anti-predator behaviour in fishes, potentially altering fitness and likelihood of survival. Such negative effects and interspecific differences must be considered when restocking fish populations.

Increased water temperature and turbidity act independently to alter social behavior in guppies ( Poecilia reticulata )

Changes in environmental conditions can shift the costs and benefits of aggregation or interfere with the sensory perception of near neighbors. This affects group cohesion with potential impacts on the benefits of collective behavior such as reduced predation risk. Organisms are rarely exposed to one stressor in isolation, yet there are only a few studies exploring the interactions between multiple stressors and their effects on social behavior. Here, we tested the effects of increased water temperature and turbidity on refuge use and three measures of aggregation in guppies (Poecilia reticulata), increasing temperature and turbidity in isolation or in combination. When stressors were elevated in isolation, the distribution of fish within the arena as measured by the index of dispersion became more aggregated at higher temperatures but less aggregated when turbidity was increased. Another measure of cohesion at the global scale, the mean inter-individual distance, also indicated that fish were less aggregated in turbid water. This is likely due to turbidity acting as a visual constraint, as there was no evidence of a change in risk perception as refuge use was not affected by turbidity. Fish decreased refuge use and were closer to their nearest neighbor at higher temperatures. However, the nearest neighbor distance was not affected by turbidity, suggesting that local-scale interactions can be robust to the moderate increase in turbidity used here (5 NTU) compared with other studies that show a decline in shoal cohesion at higher turbidity (>100 NTU). We did not observe any significant interaction terms between the two stressors, indicating no synergistic or antagonistic effects. Our study suggests that the effects of environmental stressors on social behavior may be unpredictable and dependent on the metric used to measure cohesion, highlighting the need for mechanistic studies to link behavior to the physiology and sensory effects of environmental stressors.

A warmer environment can reduce sociability in an ectotherm

The costs and benefits of being social vary with environmental conditions, so individuals must weigh the balance between these trade-offs in response to changes in the environment. Temperature is a salient environmental factor that may play a key role in altering the costs and benefits of sociality through its effects on food availability, predator abundance, and other ecological parameters. In ectotherms, changes in temperature also have direct effects on physiological traits linked to social behaviour, such as metabolic rate and locomotor performance. In light of climate change, it is therefore important to understand the potential effects of temperature on sociality. Here, we took the advantage of a 'natural experiment' of threespine sticklebacks from contrasting thermal environments in Iceland: geothermally warmed water bodies (warm habitats) and adjacent ambient-temperature water bodies (cold habitats) that were either linked (sympatric) or physically distinct (allopatric). We first measured the sociability of wild-caught adult fish from warm and cold habitats after acclimation to a low and a high temperature. At both acclimation temperatures, fish from the allopatric warm habitat were less social than those from the allopatric cold habitat, whereas fish from sympatric warm and cold habitats showed no differences in sociability. To determine whether differences in sociability between thermal habitats in the allopatric population were heritable, we used a common garden breeding design where individuals from the warm and the cold habitat were reared at a low or high temperature for two generations. We found that sociability was indeed heritable but also influenced by rearing temperature, suggesting that thermal conditions during early life can play an important role in influencing social behaviour in adulthood. By providing the first evidence for a causal effect of rearing temperature on social behaviour, our study provides novel insights into how a warming world may influence sociality in animal populations.

A warmer environment can reduce sociability in an ectotherm

The costs and benefits of being social vary with environmental conditions, so individuals must weigh the balance between these trade-offs in response to changes in the environment. Temperature is a salient environmental factor that may play a key role in altering the costs and benefits of sociality through its effects on food availability, predator abundance, and other ecological parameters. In ectotherms, changes in temperature also have direct effects on physiological traits linked to social behaviour, such as metabolic rate and locomotor performance. In light of climate change, it is therefore important to understand the potential effects of temperature on sociality. Here, we took the advantage of a 'natural experiment' of threespine sticklebacks from contrasting thermal environments in Iceland: geothermally warmed water bodies (warm habitats) and adjacent ambient-temperature water bodies (cold habitats) that were either linked (sympatric) or physically distinct (allopatric). We first measured the sociability of wild-caught adult fish from warm and cold habitats after acclimation to a low and a high temperature. At both acclimation temperatures, fish from the allopatric warm habitat were less social than those from the allopatric cold habitat, whereas fish from sympatric warm and cold habitats showed no differences in sociability. To determine whether differences in sociability between thermal habitats in the allopatric population were heritable, we used a common garden breeding design where individuals from the warm and the cold habitat were reared at a low or high temperature for two generations. We found that sociability was indeed heritable but also influenced by rearing temperature, suggesting that thermal conditions during early life can play an important role in influencing social behaviour in adulthood. By providing the first evidence for a causal effect of rearing temperature on social behaviour, our study provides novel insights into how a warming world may influence sociality in animal populations.

Escape response kinematics in two species of tropical shark: short escape latencies and high turning performance

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.

On the importance of concomitant conditions: Light and conspecific presence modulate prey response to predation cue

Assessment of individual costs of the anti-predator defence translating into changes in population parameters is meagre. This is because prey responses are likely to be modulated by additional factors, commonly present in the environment, but often neglected in experimental studies. To evaluate the effect of external factors on prey behaviour and physiology, we exposed amphipods Dikerogammarus villosus and Gammarus jazdzewskii to the predation cue of Perca fluviatilis in different densities and light conditions. Singletons of both species exposed to the predation cue in light modified their oxygen consumption (D. villosus: reduction, G. jadzewskii: increase) compared to their respiration in predator-free conditions. However , in the presence of conspecifics or in darkness, their respiration became insensitive to the predation cue. On the other hand, the swimming activity of prey was reduced in the presence of the predation cue irrespective of prey density and light conditions, but singletons were consistently more active than groups. Thus, external factors, such as conspecifics and darkness, constantly or periodically occurring in the field, may reduce the costs of predator non-consumptive effects compared to the costs measured under laboratory conditions (in light or absence of conspecifics). Moreover, we showed that behavioural and physiological parameters of prey may change differently in response to predation risk. Thus, conclusions drawn on the basis of single defence mechanisms and/or results obtained in artificial conditions, not reflecting the environmental complexity, strongly depend on the experimental design and endpoint selection and therefore should be treated with care.

Effects of exposure to elevated temperature and different food levels on the escape response and metabolism of early life stages of white seabream, Diplodus sargus

Recent literature suggests that anthropogenic stressors can disrupt ecologically relevant behaviours in fish, such as the ability to escape from predators. Disruption of these behaviours at critical life history transitions, such as the transition from the pelagic environment to the juvenile/adult habitat, may have even greater repercussions. The literature suggests that an increase in temperature can affect fish escape response, as well as metabolism; however, few studies have focused on the acute sensitivity responses and the potential for acclimation through developmental plasticity. Here, we aimed at evaluating the acute and long-term effects of exposure to warming conditions on the escape response and routine metabolic rate (RMR) of early life stages of the white seabream, Diplodus sargus. Additionally, as food availability may modulate the response to warming, we further tested the effects of long-term exposure to high temperature and food shortage, as individual and interacting drivers, on escape response and RMR. Temperature treatments were adjusted to ambient temperature (19°C) and a high temperature (22°C). Feeding treatments were established as high ration and low ration (50% of high ration). Escape response and RMR were measured after the high temperature was reached (acute exposure) and after 4 weeks (prolonged exposure). Acute warming had a significant effect on escape response and generated an upward trend in RMR. In the long term, however, there seems to be an acclimation of the escape response and RMR. Food shortage, interacting with high temperature, led to an increase in latency response and a significant reduction in RMR. The current study provides relevant experimental data on fishes' behavioural and physiological responses to the combined effects of multiple stressors. This knowledge can be incorporated in recruitment models, thereby contributing to fine-tuning of models required for fisheries management and species conservation.

Increasing temperature and prey availability affect the growth and swimming kinematics of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) larvae

Climate change will increase the magnitude and duration of warming events and the variability in the phenology and abundance of available prey to the early life stages of fish. These factors influence physiological, behavioral and ecological processes, impacting growth, development and survival. Using a fully factorial design with two prey-availability treatments (1200 prey items L^-1 (high prey abundance) or 40 prey items L^-1 (low prey abundance)) under three temperature regimes (8, 10 and 12°C), the swimming kinematics of 6-week old spring-spawning Atlantic herring larvae were examined using silhouette video photography. Higher temperatures combined with food limitation significantly decreased the growth and swimming kinematics of larval herring, with the most negative effect observed in larvae reared at 12°C and exposed to low food abundances. Specifically, larvae displayed reduced locomotory behaviors and reduced vertical movements. By contrast, larvae reared at high prey abundance and at 12°C displayed more active swimming and exploratory behavior, as evidenced by an increase in both locomotory behavior and vertical and horizontal turn angles, suggesting increased motivation to search for food. This research highlights the importance of determining to what degree fish larvae are sensitive to changes in temperature and how these changes might be further influenced by food availability.

Reply to: methodological inconsistencies define thermal bottlenecks in fish life cycle

The identification of biological pattern is often complicated by the lack of methodologically consistent data with broad geographic coverage, especially when considering functional characteristics of organisms that differ greatly in body size and morphology. In our study (Dahlke et al. 2020), we addressed the problem of data scarcity by using different types of observational and experimental data together with statistical (phylogenetic) data imputation, and by placing our analysis into the context of a physiological concept, which provides a mechanism-based explanation for the observed pattern (ontogenetic shift in thermal tolerance of fish) and with respect to transition from sublethal to lethal thresholds. Here, we show with comparative examples that our results were not affected by the use of methodologically inconsistent data.

Ocean warming and acidification degrade shoaling performance and lateralization of novel tropical-temperate fish shoals

Gregarious behaviours are common in animals and provide various benefits such as food acquisition and protection against predators. Many gregarious tropical species are shifting poleward under current ocean warming, creating novel species and social interactions with local temperate taxa. However, how the dynamics of these novel shoals might be altered by future ocean warming and acidification remains untested. Here we evaluate how novel species interactions, ocean acidification and warming affect shoaling dynamics, motor lateralization and boldness of range-extending tropical and co-shoaling temperate fishes under controlled laboratory conditions. Fishes were exposed to 1 of 12 treatments (combinations of three temperature levels, two pCO₂  levels and two shoal type levels: mixed species or temperate only) for 38 days. Lateralization (a measure of asymmetric expression of cognitive function in group coordination and predator escape) of tropical and temperate species was right-side biased under present-day conditions, but side bias significantly diminished in tropical and temperate fishes under ocean acidification. Ocean acidification also decreased shoal cohesion irrespective of shoaling type, with mixed-species shoals showing significantly lower cohesion than temperate-only shoals irrespective of climate stressors. Tropical fish became bolder under ocean acidification (after 4 weeks), and temperate fish became bolder with increasing temperature, while ocean acidification dampened temperate fish boldness. Our findings highlight the direct effect of climate stressors on fish behaviour and the interplay with the indirect effects of novel species interactions. Because strong shoal cohesion and lateralization are key determinants of species fitness, their degradation under ocean warming and acidification could adversely affect species performance in novel assemblages in a future ocean, and might slow down tropical species range extensions.

The Combined Effects of Warming and Body Size on the Stability of Predator-Prey Interactions

Environmental temperature and body size are two prominent drivers of predation. Despite the ample evidence of their independent effects, the combined impact of temperature and predator-prey body size ratio on the strength and stability of trophic interactions is not fully understood. We experimentally tested how water temperature alters the functional response and population stability of dragonfly nymphs (Cordulegaster boltonii) feeding on freshwater amphipods (Gammarus pulex) across a gradient of their body size ratios. Attack coefficients were highest for small predators feeding on small prey at low temperatures, but shifted toward the largest predators feeding on larger prey in warmer environments. Handling time appeared to decrease with increasing predator and prey body size in the cold environment, but increase at higher temperatures. These findings indicate interactive effects of temperature and body size on functional responses. There was also a negative effect of warming on the stability of predator and prey populations, but this was counteracted by a larger predator-prey body size ratio at higher temperatures. Here, a greater Hill exponent reduced feeding at low prey densities when predators were much larger than their prey, enhancing the persistence of both predator and prey populations in the warmer environment. These experimental findings provide new mechanistic insights into the destabilizing effect of warming on trophic interactions and the key role of predator-prey body size ratios in mitigating these effects.

Combined effects of ocean warming and acidification on marine fish and shellfish: A molecule to ecosystem perspective

It is expected that by 2050 human population will exceed nine billion leading to increased pressure on marine ecosystems. Therefore, it is conjectured various levels of ecosystem functioning starting from individual to population-level, species distribution, food webs and trophic interaction dynamics will be severely jeopardized in coming decades. Ocean warming and acidification are two prime threats to marine biota, yet studies about their cumulative effect on marine fish and shellfishes are still in its infancy. This review assesses existing information regarding the interactive effects of global environmental factors like warming and acidification in the perspective of marine capture fisheries and aquaculture industry. As climate change continues, distribution pattern of species is likely to be altered which will impact fisheries and fishing patterns. Our work is an attempt to compile the existing literatures in the biological perspective of the above-mentioned stressors and accentuate a clear outline of knowledge in this subject. We reviewed studies deciphering the biological consequences of warming and acidification on fish and shellfishes in the light of a molecule to ecosystem perspective. Here, for the first time impacts of these two global environmental drivers are discussed in a holistic manner taking into account growth, survival, behavioural response, prey predator dynamics, calcification, biomineralization, reproduction, physiology, thermal tolerance, molecular level responses as well as immune system and disease susceptibility. We suggest urgent focus on more robust, long term, comprehensive and ecologically realistic studies that will significantly contribute to the understanding of organism's response to climate change for sustainable capture fisheries and aquaculture.

In Vitro Fish Models for the Analysis of Ecotoxins and Temperature Increase in the Context of Global Warming

Rising temperatures can affect fish survival, especially from shallower waters, as temperatures increase faster and more intensively in these areas; thus, species-specific temperature tolerance can be exceeded. Additionally, the amounts of anthropogenic pollutants are higher in coastal waters. Although increasing metabolic activity at higher temperatures could lead to stronger effects of toxins, there are hardly any studies on this topic. Subsequently, the aim was to investigate the response of fish cells upon exposure to industrial solvents (ethanol, isopropanol, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)) in relation to a temperature increase (20 °C and 25 °C). Concerning the 3Rs (the replacement, reduction and refinement of animal experiments), in vitro tests were used for two threatened, vulnerable fish species: maraena whitefish (Coregonus maraena) and Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus). Both cell lines exhibited higher proliferation at 25 °C. However, ecotoxicological results indicated significant differences regarding the cell line, toxin, temperature and exposure time. The evolutionarily older fish lineage, Atlantic sturgeon, demonstrated lower mortality rates in the presence of isopropanol and recovered better during long-term ethanol exposure than the maraena whitefish. Atlantic sturgeon cells have higher adaptation potential for these alcohols. In summary, fish species respond very specifically to toxins and changes in temperature, and new ecotoxicological questions arise with increasing water temperatures.

Ocean acidification impairs the physiology of symbiotic phyllosoma larvae of the lobster Thenus australiensis and their ability to detect cues from jellyfish

Ocean acidification (OA) can alter the behaviour and physiology of marine fauna and impair their ability to interact with other species, including those in symbiotic and predatory relationships. Phyllosoma larvae of lobsters are symbionts to many invertebrates and often ride and feed on jellyfish, however OA may threaten interactions between phyllosomas and jellyfish. Here, we tested whether OA predicted for surface mid-shelf waters of Great Barrier Reef, Australia, under ∆ pH = -0.1 (pH ~7.9) and ∆pH = -0.3 (pH ~7.7) relative to the present pH (~8.0) (P) impaired the survival, moulting, respiration, and metabolite profiles of phyllosoma larvae of the slipper lobster Thenus australiensis, and the ability of phyllosomas to detect chemical cues of fresh jellyfish tissue. We discovered that OA was detrimental to survival of phyllosomas with only 20% survival under ∆pH = -0.3 compared to 49.2% and 45.3% in the P and ∆pH = -0.1 treatments, respectively. The numbers of phyllosomas that moulted in the P and ∆pH = -0.1 treatments were 40% and 34% higher, respectively, than those in the ∆pH = -0.3 treatment. Respiration rates varied between pH treatments, but were not consistent through time. Respiration rates in the ∆pH = -0.3 and ∆pH = -0.1 treatments were initially 40% and 22% higher, respectively, than in the P treatment on Day 2 and then rates varied to become 26% lower (∆pH = -0.3) and 17% (∆pH = -0.1) higher towards the end of the experiment. Larvae were attracted to jellyfish tissue in treatments P and ∆pH = -0.1 but avoided jellyfish at ∆pH = -0.3. Moreover, OA conditions under ∆pH = -0.1 and ∆pH = -0.3 levels reduced the relative abundances of 22 of the 34 metabolites detected in phyllosomas via Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Our study demonstrates that the physiology and ability to detect jellyfish tissue by phyllosomas of the lobster T. australiensis may be impaired under ∆pH = -0.3 relative to the present conditions, with potential negative consequences for adult populations of this commercially important species.

The combined effects of climate change stressors and predatory cues on a mussel species

In order to make adequate projections on the consequences of climate change stressors on marine organisms, it is important to know how impacts of these stressors are affected by the presence of other species. Here we assessed the direct effects of ocean warming (OW) and acidification (OA) along with non-consumptive effects (NCEs) of a predatory crab and/or a predatory snail on the habitat-forming mussel Perumytilus purpuratus. Mussels were exposed for 10-14 weeks to contrasting pCO₂ (500 and 1400 μatm) and temperature (15 and 20 °C) levels, in the presence/absence of cues from one or two predator species. We compared mussel traits at sub-organismal (nutritional status, metabolic capacity-ATP production-, cell stress condition via HSP70 expression) and organismal (survival, oxygen consumption, growth, byssus biogenesis, clearance rates, aggregation) levels. OA increased the mussels' oxygen consumption; and OA combined with OW increased ATP demand and the use of carbohydrate reserves. Mussels at present-day pCO₂ levels had the highest protein content. Under OW the predatory snail cues induced the highest cell stress condition on the mussels. Temperature, predator cues and the interaction between them affected mussel growth. Mussels grew larger at the control temperature (15 °C) when crab and snail cues were present. Mussel wet mass and calcification were affected by predator cues; with highest values recorded in crab cue presence (isolated or combined with snail cues). In the absence of predator cues in the trails, byssus biogenesis was affected by OA, OW and the OA × OW and OA × predator cues interactions. At present-day pCO₂ levels, more byssus was recorded with snail than with crab cues. Clearance rates were affected by temperature, pCO₂ and the interaction between them. The investigated stressors had no effects on mussel aggregation. We conclude that OA, OW and the NCEs may lead to neutral, positive or negative consequences for mussels.

Shoaling, boldness, anxiety-like behavior and locomotion in zebrafish (Danio rerio) are altered by acute benzo[a]pyrene exposure

Environmental exposure to crude oil and/or its derivatives in fishes can negatively impact survival, morphology and physiology, but relatively little focus has been on behavior. Exposures can influence prey-predator interactions, courtship and other vital behaviors, leading to individual or population disruption at toxicant levels well below those producing morphological or physiological changes. The few behavioral studies of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on fish behavior have yielded highly inconsistent results, likely relating to chronic vs. acute treatment. A few studies report lethargy and decreased exploratory behavior, while others indicate increased anxiety and greater exploratory behavior with PAH exposure. In our study on zebrafish (Danio rerio), we hypothesized that even relatively brief (30 min) exposure to the PAH benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) would impact group shoaling and individual behaviors in open field and novel object exploration tests. Exposures comprised measured concentrations of 1.0 μM, 10 μM, or 100 μM, B[a]P. Compared to controls, inter-individual distance (IID) was significantly increased by 100 μM B[a]P, but not by 1.0 μM or 10 μM B[a]P. Total distance moved by shoals was decreased significantly at B[a]P concentrations of 1.0 μM, 10 μM and 100 μM. In the open field test of individual locomotion and anxiety-like behavior, time spent in the thigmotaxis zone along the walls of the circular test arena (a proxy for anxiety-like behavior), was decreased at 100 μM. In the novel object approach test to investigate boldness, time spent near the object was significantly increased by both 10 μM and 100 μM B[a]P. Collectively, these data indicate a complex suite of changes in zebrafish including altered shoal dynamics, decreased anxiety, increased boldness, and decreased locomotion associated with exposure to B[a]P.

Pursuit and evasion strategies in the predator-prey interactions of fishes

Predator-prey interactions are critical to the biology of a diversity of animals. Although prey capture is determined by the direction, velocity, and timing of motion by both animals, it is generally unclear what strategies are employed by predators and prey to guide locomotion. Here we review our research on fishes that tests the pursuit strategy of predators and the evasion strategy of prey through kinematic measurements and agent-based models. This work demonstrates that fish predators track prey with variations on a deviated-pursuit strategy that is guided by visual cues. Fish prey employ a mixed strategy that varies with factors such as the direction of a predator's approach. Our models consider the stochastic nature of interactions by incorporating measured probability distributions to accurately predict measurements of survivorship. A sensitivity analysis of these models shows the importance of the response distance of prey to their survival. Collectively, this work demonstrates how strategy affects the outcome of predator-prey interactions and articulates the roles of sensing, control, and propulsion. The research program that we have developed has the potential to offer a framework for the study of strategy in the predator-prey interactions of a variety of animals.

Effects of wave-driven water flow on the fast-start escape response of juvenile coral reef damselfishes

Fish often evade predators with a fast-start escape response. Studies typically examine this behaviour in still water despite water motion being an inherent feature of aquatic ecosystems. In shallow habitats, waves create complex flows that likely influence escape performance, particularly in small fishes with low absolute swimming speeds relative to environmental flows. I examined how wave-driven water flow affects the behaviour and kinematics of escape responses in juveniles of three coral reef damselfishes (Pomacentridae) with different body morphologies. Tropical damselfishes have similar fin and body shapes during early development, with the exception of body depth, a trait deemed important for postural control and stability. Wave-driven flow increased response latency in two of the three species tested: fish with a fusiform body responded 2.9 times slower in wave-driven flow than in still water, whereas this difference was less pronounced in fish with an intermediate body depth (1.9 times slower response) and absent in fish with a laterally compressed body. The effect of wave-driven flow on swimming performance (cumulative escape distance and turning rate) was variable and depended on the timing and trajectory of escape responses in relation to the wave phase. Given intense predation pressure on juvenile coral reef fishes during settlement, interspecific differences in how wave-driven flow affects their ability to escape predators could influence the distribution and abundance of species across spatial and temporal scales.

Does global warming intensify cost of antipredator reaction? A case study of freshwater amphipods

Global warming is a worldwide phenomenon affecting the functioning of diverse ecosystems, including fresh waters. Temperature increase affects physiology and behaviour of ectotherms due to growing energetic demands necessary to sustain increased metabolic rate. Anti-predator responses may resemble temperature-induced changes in organisms, suggesting synergism between these factors. To check how temperature shapes physiological and behavioural responses of ectotherms to predation risk, we exposed amphipods: Dikerogammarus villosus and Gammarus jazdzewskii to fish kairomones at 10, 17 or 24 °C. Animals were placed in tanks where temperature was gradually adjusted to the desired test temperature and acclimated under such conditions for 3 subsequent days. Then they were exposed to the predator cue (the Eurasian perch kairomone) for 35 min to test their acute responses. We measured metabolic rate (as respiration), antioxidant defence (CAT: catalase activity, TAS: total antioxidant status), oxidative molecules (TOS: total oxidative status), oxidative damage (TBARS: thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) and behaviour (locomotor activity). Amphipods increased respiration with raising temperature and when exposed to predation risk (all temperatures). Only G. jazdzewskii exhibited increased TOS when exposed to 24 °C or to predation risk at all temperatures. Antioxidant defence increased with raising temperature (CAT, TAS) and decreased under predation risk (CAT). Cellular damage increased in G. jazdzewskii under predation risk at 10 and 24 °C, but raised temperature itself did not generate any damage. Amphipods reduced locomotor activity at 24 °C. Thus, at elevated temperatures, amphipods minimized their cellular damage at the cost of increased antioxidant defence and lower locomotor activity (potentially disadvantageous under higher energetic demands). Under predation risk, the performance of antioxidant systems was reduced, probably due to energy allocation into anti-predatory mechanisms, leading to increased cellular damage at suboptimum temperatures. Thus, negative consequences of elevated temperature for organisms may be amplified by changes in behaviour (compromising food acquisition) and non-consumptive predator effects.

Parasite infection directly impacts escape response and stress levels in fish

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.

What do warming waters mean for fish physiology and fisheries?

Environmental signals act primarily on physiological systems, which then influence higher-level functions such as movement patterns and population dynamics. Increases in average temperature and temperature variability associated with global climate change are likely to have strong effects on fish physiology and thereby on populations and fisheries. Here we review the principal mechanisms that transduce temperature signals and the physiological responses to those signals in fish. Temperature has a direct, thermodynamic effect on biochemical reaction rates. Nonetheless, plastic responses to longer-term thermal signals mean that fishes can modulate their acute thermal responses to compensate at least partially for thermodynamic effects. Energetics are particularly relevant for growth and movement, and therefore for fisheries, and temperature can have pronounced effects on energy metabolism. All energy (ATP) production is ultimately linked to mitochondria, and temperature has pronounced effects on mitochondrial efficiency and maximal capacities. Mitochondria are dependent on oxygen as the ultimate electron acceptor so that cardiovascular function and oxygen delivery link environmental inputs with energy metabolism. Growth efficiency, that is the conversion of food into tissue, changes with temperature, and there are indications that warmer water leads to decreased conversion efficiencies. Moreover, movement and migration of fish relies on muscle function, which is partially dependent on ATP production but also on intracellular calcium cycling within the myocyte. Neuroendocrine processes link environmental signals to regulated responses at the level of different tissues, including muscle. These physiological processes within individuals can scale up to population responses to climate change. A mechanistic understanding of thermal responses is essential to predict the vulnerability of species and populations to climate change.

Anthropogenic stressors impact fish sensory development and survival via thyroid disruption

Larval metamorphosis and recruitment represent critical life-history transitions for most teleost fishes. While the detrimental effects of anthropogenic stressors on the behavior and survival of recruiting fishes are well-documented, the physiological mechanisms that underpin these patterns remain unclear. Here, we use pharmacological treatments to highlight the role that thyroid hormones (TH) play in sensory development and determining anti-predator responses in metamorphosing convict surgeonfish, Acanthurus triostegus. We then show that high doses of a physical stressor (increased temperature of +3 °C) and a chemical stressor (the pesticide chlorpyrifos at 30 µg L⁻¹) induced similar defects by decreasing fish TH levels and affecting their sensory development. Stressor-exposed fish experienced higher predation; however, their ability to avoid predation improved when they received supplemental TH. Our results highlight that two different anthropogenic stressors can affect critical developmental and ecological transitions via the same physiological pathway. This finding provides a unifying mechanism to explain past results and underlines the profound threat anthropogenic stressors pose to fish communities.

Anthropogenic stressors affect many aspects of marine organismal health. Here, the authors expose surgeonfish to temperature and pesticide stressors and show that the stressors, separately and in combination, have adverse effects on thyroid signaling, which disrupts several sensory systems and important predation defenses.

The impacts of climate change on the biomechanics of animals: Themed Issue Article: Biomechanics and Climate Change

Anthropogenic climate change induces unprecedented variability in a broad range of environmental parameters. These changes will impact material properties and animal biomechanics, thereby affecting animal performance and persistence of populations. Climate change implies warming at the global level, and it may be accompanied by altered wind speeds, wave action, ocean circulation, acidification as well as increased frequency of hypoxic events. Together, these environmental drivers affect muscle function and neural control and thereby movement of animals such as bird migration and schooling behaviour of fish. Altered environmental conditions will also modify material properties of animals. For example, ocean acidification, particularly when coupled with increased temperatures, compromises calcified shells and skeletons of marine invertebrates and byssal threads of mussels. These biomechanical consequences can lead to population declines and disintegration of habitats. Integrating biomechanical research with ecology is instrumental in predicting the future responses of natural systems to climate change and the consequences for ecosystem services such as fisheries and ecotourism.