Hobart

Seminar Abstract

Tuesday 17 February 2009, 11.30am (Tas time)
CSIRO Auditorium, Hobart

Philip Munday
QEII Research Fellow and Principal Research Fellow
James Cook University

Global warming, ocean acidification and the future for marine fishes

Sea surface temperatures are increasing and ocean pH is decreasing as a result of additional carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. In the tropics, considerable attention has focused on the impacts that global warming and ocean acidification have on coral communities. Much less is known about the likely impacts of these threats to reef fish communities. Although temperatures are projected to increase less in tropical seas than in temperate seas, tropical species may be sensitive to small increases in temperature because they have evolved in a thermally stable environment. The likely effects of ocean acidification on marine fishes are almost completely unknown. In this seminar I present results for a series of experiments designed to test the effects of elevated temperature and reduced pH on the physiological condition, life history traits, and behaviour of reef fishes. Small increases in average summer temperature affected aerobic capacity, growth, body condition and reproductive output of adults. Growth and development of larvae was not disadvantaged by conditions simulating ocean acidification. However, larval sensory ability was substantially impaired at moderate levels of acidification. These results indicate that climate change will have significant consequences for reef fish communities.

Dr Philip Munday is a QEII Research Fellow and Principal Research Fellow at James Cook University. His research focuses on assessing and predicting the vulnerability of reef fishes to climate change.

Seminar Recording

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Location:
CSIRO = Marine Laboratories Auditorium, Castray Esplanade, Hobart

For further information, or to schedule a seminar, contact:
To schedule a seminar, contact:
Clothilde Langlais, (Oceanographic seminars) CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (03) 6232 5399
Natalie Kelly, (Biology/Modelling seminars) CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research 0438 452 483
Jillian Enraght-Moony, (seminar administrator) CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (03) 6232 5320
Communications Manager, Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC (03) 6226 2265
Margaret Hazelwood, Institute of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Studies (IASOS) University of Tasmania (03) 6226 2971

Last updated 21/07/09