As oceans warm, coral reef fish might prefer to move rather than adapt
Thursday, October 6, 2016 - 08:42
in Earth & Climate
Scientists have new evidence that coral-reef fish -- who are capable of adapting to warmer temperatures brought about by global climate change -- will probably opt instead to relocate to cooler parts of the ocean. In experiments using a fish found in coral reefs around the world, the blue-green damselfish, researchers found that the fish were capable of adapting to living in water 2-4 degrees Celsius above their normal summer temperatures; however, when given the slightest chance, the fish moved to cooler water.