Quantifying Respiratory Plasticity of Checkered Pufferfish Under Climate Change Conditions
Abstract
Increasing water temperatures resulting from global climate change introduce new energetic demands for marine organisms. Higher energy input will be required to cope with a subsequently higher metabolic rate, affecting all aspects of an individual’s life and therefore their survival. Because estuaries act as a link between rivers and oceans, they and their inhabitants are considered to be the most threatened by climate change. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how these organisms will respond to increased stressors due to climate change. Checkered pufferfish (Sphoeroides testudineus) are among the most common teleost fish in the Indian River Lagoon, and spend much of their life in seagrass beds, mangroves, and tidal marshes, making them an ideal study species. Intermittent-flow respirometry, which estimates standard and maximum metabolic rates by measuring oxygen consumption, is used to make inferences about how this species will cope with higher water temperatures. A decreased aerobic scope, the difference between MMR and SMR, at higher temperatures reveals the inability to modify the allocation of an organism’s total energy budget in high stress conditions. Results show that survival favors a species with the affinity to increase its metabolic rates. Findings will contribute to the current knowledge of climate change and estuarine conservation research and will help to better understand and predict population changes of these and similar species.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. David Kerstetter
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-3-2024 12:30 PM
End Date
4-4-2024 1:30 PM
Quantifying Respiratory Plasticity of Checkered Pufferfish Under Climate Change Conditions
Alvin Sherman Library
Increasing water temperatures resulting from global climate change introduce new energetic demands for marine organisms. Higher energy input will be required to cope with a subsequently higher metabolic rate, affecting all aspects of an individual’s life and therefore their survival. Because estuaries act as a link between rivers and oceans, they and their inhabitants are considered to be the most threatened by climate change. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how these organisms will respond to increased stressors due to climate change. Checkered pufferfish (Sphoeroides testudineus) are among the most common teleost fish in the Indian River Lagoon, and spend much of their life in seagrass beds, mangroves, and tidal marshes, making them an ideal study species. Intermittent-flow respirometry, which estimates standard and maximum metabolic rates by measuring oxygen consumption, is used to make inferences about how this species will cope with higher water temperatures. A decreased aerobic scope, the difference between MMR and SMR, at higher temperatures reveals the inability to modify the allocation of an organism’s total energy budget in high stress conditions. Results show that survival favors a species with the affinity to increase its metabolic rates. Findings will contribute to the current knowledge of climate change and estuarine conservation research and will help to better understand and predict population changes of these and similar species.
