Aerobic scope fails to explain the detrimental effects on growth resulting from warming and elevated CO2 in Atlantic halibut
Journal article, 2014
As a consequence of increasing atmospheric CO2, the world's oceans are becoming warmer and more acidic. Whilst the ecological effects of these changes are poorly understood, it has been suggested that fish performance including growth will be reduced mainly as a result of limitations in oxygen transport capacity. Contrary to the predictions given by the oxygen- and capacity-limited thermal tolerance hypothesis, we show that aerobic scope and cardiac performance of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) increase following 14–16 weeks exposure to elevated temperatures and even more so in combination with CO2-acidified seawater. However, the increase does not translate into improved growth, demonstrating that oxygen uptake is not the limiting factor for growth performance at high temperatures. Instead, long-term exposure to CO2-acidified seawater reduces growth at temperatures that are frequently encountered by this species in nature, indicating that elevated atmospheric CO2 levels may have serious implications on fish populations in the future.
Carbon dioxide
Optimal temperature
Ocean acidification
Oxygen and capacity limited thermal tolerance
OCLTT
Oxygen consumption rate
Climate change
Respirometry
Author
Albin Gräns
University of Gothenburg
Fredrik Jutfelt
University of Gothenburg
Erik Sandblom
University of Gothenburg
Elisabeth Jönsson
University of Gothenburg
Kerstin Wiklander
Chalmers, Mathematical Sciences, Mathematical Statistics
University of Gothenburg
Henrik Seth
University of Gothenburg
Catharina Olsson
University of Gothenburg
Samuel Dupont
University of Gothenburg
Olga Ortega-Martínez
University of Gothenburg
Ingibjörg Einarsdottir
University of Gothenburg
Björn Thrandur Björnsson
University of Gothenburg
Kristina Sundell
University of Gothenburg
Michael Axelsson
University of Gothenburg
Journal of Experimental Biology
0022-0949 (ISSN) 1477-9145 (eISSN)
Vol. 217 5 711-717Subject Categories
Biological Sciences
Probability Theory and Statistics
DOI
10.1242/jeb.096743