Painted Goby Larvae under High-CO2 Fail to Recognize Reef Sounds

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Oceanography
• Climate Change Science

Background:

• Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) increases ocean partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) and decreases pH.
• Ocean acidification poses a significant threat to marine ecosystems and organisms, including fish.
• Larval fish rely on sensory cues, such as sound, to locate suitable adult habitats for settlement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of elevated CO2 levels on the auditory cue detection abilities of settlement-stage temperate fish.
• To determine if ocean acidification affects the settlement behavior of painted goby (Pomatoschistus pictus) larvae in response to reef sounds.

Main Methods:

• Larval painted gobies (Pomatoschistus pictus) were reared under control (532 μatm, pH 8.06) and high CO2 (1503 μatm, pH 7.66) conditions.
• Fish were tested in an auditory choice chamber to assess their response to nighttime reef sound recordings.
• Behavioral responses (preference or avoidance) to auditory cues were recorded and analyzed.

Main Results:

• Larvae reared in control CO2 conditions showed attraction to reef soundscapes.
• Larvae reared in high CO2 conditions exhibited a strong avoidance of reef sound recordings.
• Elevated CO2 levels significantly altered the auditory responses of settlement-stage fish.

Conclusions:

• Ocean acidification can negatively affect the auditory responses of larval temperate reef fish.
• Impaired auditory cue detection may lead to reduced settlement success and survival rates for fish populations.
• This study highlights potential cascading effects of climate change on marine fish populations.