Anemone bleaching increases the metabolic demands of symbiont anemonefish. Issue 1876 (11th April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Norin, Tommy; Mills, Suzanne C.; Crespel, Amélie; Cortese, Daphne; Killen, Shaun S.; Beldade, Ricardo
• Is Part Of: Proceedings. Volume 285:Issue 1876(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-04-11
• Subjects: climate change -- coral reef -- fish -- global warming -- metabolic rate -- temperature; Biology -- Periodicals; 570.5
• DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.0282
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0962-8452

Abstract

Abstract : Increased ocean temperatures are causing mass bleaching of anemones and corals in the tropics worldwide. While such heat-induced loss of algal symbionts (zooxanthellae) directly affects anemones and corals physiologically, this damage may also cascade on to other animal symbionts. Metabolic rate is an integrative physiological trait shown to relate to various aspects of organismal performance, behaviour and locomotor capacity, and also shows plasticity during exposure to acute and chronic stressors. As climate warming is expected to affect the physiology, behaviour and life history of animals, including ectotherms such as fish, we measured if residing in bleached versus unbleached sea anemones ( Heteractis magnifica ) affected the standard (i.e. baseline) metabolic rate and behaviour (activity) of juvenile orange-fin anemonefish ( Amphiprion chrysopterus ) . Metabolic rate was estimated from rates of oxygen uptake, and the standard metabolic rate of anemonefish from bleached anemones was significantly higher by 8.2% compared with that of fish residing in unbleached anemones, possibly due to increased stress levels. Activity levels did not differ between fish from bleached and unbleached anemones. As reflects the minimum cost of living, the increased metabolic demands may contribute to the negative impacts of bleaching on important anemonefish life history and fitness traits observed previously (e.g. reduced spawning frequency and lower fecundity).