Ocean Acidification Don't Affect the Behavior of Coral Reef Fishes

Over the previous decade, numerous high-profile scientific studies claim that tropical fish residing in coral reefs adversely influenced ocean acidification brought about through climate change.

That is, they behave oddly and are interested in predators as stages of carbon dioxide dissolved from air pollution increase. However, new studies suggest that isn't the case.

According to researchers, whose study was published in Nature, fish behavior isn't affected at all in the most extensive studies yet of the impacts of ocean acidification in coral reef fish.

Lead writer Timothy Clark, an associate professor at Deakin University's School of Life and Environmental Sciences in Geelong, noted the high-profile studies that determined alarming outcomes of ocean acidification on coral reef fish behavior. He cited some reports that "fish become drawn to the smell of predators in acidified waters."

While the team tried to re-do the earlier research with a lot of the same species, Clark and his team of Canadian and Scandinavian scientists-inclusive of UdeM biologists Sandra Binning and Dominique Roche-arrived at very different consequences.

Clark said they tried anticipating previous effects smoothly due to how clear and sturdy they appeared in the original studies. He added ocean acidification - through using rigorous methods, measuring multiple behaviors in multiple species, and making our records and analysis code brazenly available - has "negligible direct influences" at the behavior of fish toward coral reefs.

Increased carbon dioxide, according to Clark, individually adjusts activity levels or behavioral lateralization and regulates the reaction of fish to the chemical signals launched through predators.

The new study is sure to make a massive impact inside the marine biology world, the scientists believe. It suggests that science doesn't usually produce results to buttress things anybody has the same opinion on, like climate change.

Binning, an assistant professor at UdeM, said some people might be surprised by the results of the findings. However, she clarified that accumulating evidence that topics "brings everyone closer to the truth."

Roche, a study partner at UdeM, clarified their research is not saying that "climate change is not always the problem." Replication studies are "as critical as global warming and ocean acidification in general," the co-researcher added.

The negative consequences of carbon dioxide emissions are well established, with international warming already having devastating results on coral reef ecosystems around the world. Roche pointed out that more frequent storms, coral bleaching, and heatwaves are causing severe habitat loss for fish.

Regardless of the new results, the researchers said coral reefs and their fish groups continue to be in grave danger due to the increasing amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Scientists could do higher focus "on other factors of weather change which are greater in need of studies," including infectious disease risk, habitat destruction, and reduced oxygen ranges in water said Binning.

"Studies are important in an extraordinary manner attainable to higher help us recognize and target structures and organisms at the best risk with so little time left to fight climate change," said Roche.