Predicting the Effects of Climate Change on the Fertility of Aquatic Animals Using a Meta-Analytic Approach

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Reproductive Biology
• Climate Change Science

Background:

• Reproductive physiology is sensitive to thermal stress, raising concerns about climate change effects on animal fertility.
• Reduced fertility can impact population growth and survival, necessitating better understanding of climate change impacts on reproductive traits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize existing research and examine the effects of thermal stress on fertility in aquatic animals.
• To identify which reproductive strategies and species are most vulnerable to increased temperatures.

Main Methods:

• A meta-analysis was conducted, synthesizing 1894 effect sizes from 276 studies across 241 aquatic species.
• The study analyzed the impact of temperature on various aspects of fertility, including gametes and differences between external and internal fertilization.

Main Results:

• External fertilizers were found to be more vulnerable to warming than internal fertilizers, particularly in freshwater species.
• Increased temperatures were detrimental to gametes, and female fertility showed higher sensitivity to warming than male fertility under certain conditions.
• Findings challenge the prevailing view of male vulnerability to thermal stress.

Conclusions:

• Temperature increases pose significant risks to aquatic animal fertility, with implications for population viability.
• The differential vulnerability of fertilization strategies and sexes to warming requires consideration in conservation efforts related to climate change.