behavioral ecology

Ocean acidi cation and global warming impair shark hunting behaviour and growth

Alterations in predation pressure can have large e ects on trophically-structured systems. Modi cation of predator behaviour via ocean warming has been assessed by laboratory experimentation and metabolic theory. However, the in uence of ocean acidi cation with ocean warming remains largely unexplored for mesopredators, including experimental assessments that incorporate key components of the assemblages in which animals naturally live. We employ a combination of long-term laboratory and mesocosm experiments containing natural prey and habitat to assess how warming and acidi cation a ect the development, growth, and hunting behaviour in sharks. Although embryonic development was faster due to temperature, elevated temperature and CO2 had detrimental e ects on sharks by not only increasing energetic demands, but also by decreasing metabolic e ciency and reducing their ability to locate food through olfaction. The combination of these e ects led to considerable reductions in growth rates of sharks held in natural mesocosms with elevated CO2, either alone or in combination with higher temperature. Our results suggest a more complex reality for predators, where ocean acidi cation reduces their ability to e ectively hunt and exert strong top-down control over food webs. 

Date
2015
Data type
Scientific article
Theme
Research and monitoring
Document