Zarco-Perello, Salvador, Pratchett, Morgan, and Liao, Vetea (2012) Temperature-growth performance curves for a coral reef fish, Acanthochromis polyacanthus. Galaxea, Journal of Coral Reef Studies, 14. pp. 1-7.

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Abstract

This paper presents the first temperature-growth performance curves for a coral reef fish. Thermal tolerance and growth for the juvenile spiny damselfish Acantho- chromis polyacanthus were measured at a range of tem- peratures from 15°C to 38°C. A. polyacanthus juveniles showed a critical thermal minimum at 15.5°C±0.1 and a critical thermal maximum at 38°C±0.12. Maximal growth (based on changes in length) occurred at 28-31°C, whereas weight gain was maximised at 28°C, which corresponds closely with the annual mean temperature currently ex- perienced by these fishes in their natural environment. At temperatures >31°C the growth rate decreased markedly in length and weight up to 34°C, where fishes had neg- ligible growth and died within 8-15 days. Sustained in- creases in ambient temperature (due to climate change) are expected to have significant adverse effects on these fishes. However, any effects of increasing temperature may also be offset by changing the timing of reproduction; by breeding in early spring or late summer, these fishes may still be able to exploit narrow windows of thermal optima, whereas fishes breeding in the height of summer will expose offspring to potentially lethal temperatures at critical stages during their development.

Item ID:	25828
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1883-3969
Keywords:	global warming, thermal tolerance, behaviour, growth, damselfish
Related URLs:	Publisher
Date Deposited:	21 Mar 2013 04:11
FoR Codes:	06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0602 Ecology > 060205 Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl Marine Ichthyology) @ 100%
SEO Codes:	97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970106 Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences @ 50% 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9603 Climate and Climate Change > 960307 Effects of Climate Change and Variability on Australia (excl. Social Impacts) @ 50%
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