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Climate challenges for fish larvae: Interactive multi-stressor effects impair acclimation potential of Atlantic
Andrea Franke1, Till Bayer2, Catriona Clemmesen2
1Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity at the University of Oldenburg (HIFMB), Im Technologiepark 5, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany; Alfred-Wegener-Institute, Helmholtz-Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany.
The Science of the Total Environment
|August 24, 2024
Summary
Climate change stressors like heat waves and bacteria harm Atlantic herring larvae. Combined effects impair gene responses and alter gut microbes, threatening survival and contributing to population decline.
Area of Science:
- Marine biology
- Climate change impacts
- Fish developmental biology
Background:
- Fish early life stages are highly sensitive to environmental changes.
- The combined effects of climate change stressors on fish larvae are not well understood.
- Rising temperatures can increase bacterial virulence, posing a threat to aquatic organisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interactive effects of a spring heat wave and bacterial exposure on Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) larvae.
- To assess the impact on gene expression, microRNA profiles, microbiota composition, growth, and survival.
- To understand the implications for Western Baltic Spring-Spawning herring recruitment.
Main Methods:
- Atlantic herring eggs and larvae were reared under normal and high temperature ramps.
- Larvae were exposed to Vibrio alginolyticus and Vibrio anguillarum.
- mRNA and miRNA transcriptomes, microbiota composition, growth, and survival were analyzed.
Main Results:
- High temperature and bacterial exposure individually downregulated gene expression, potentially hindering cell proliferation.
- Interactive effects of heat and Vibrio exposure led to minimal gene expression changes, suggesting impaired acclimation.
- Both stressors altered miRNA expression and significantly changed larval microbiota composition, with warming reducing microbial diversity.
- Elevated temperatures and bacterial exposure negatively impacted larval growth and survival.
Conclusions:
- Atlantic herring larvae are highly sensitive to combined climate change-related stressors.
- Interactive effects of environmental factors can exceed larval stress thresholds, impairing crucial acclimation responses.
- These impairments may contribute to the decline in Western Baltic Spring-Spawning herring recruitment.
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