Large predatory coral trout species unlikely to meet increasing energetic demands in a warming ocean.

ABSTRACT: Increased ocean temperature due to climate change is raising metabolic demands and energy requirements of marine ectotherms. If productivity of marine systems and fisheries are to persist, individual species must compensate for this demand through increasing energy acquisition or decreasing energy expenditure. Here we reveal that the most important coral reef fishery species in the Indo-west Pacific, the large predatory coral trout Plectropomus leopardus (Serranidae), can behaviourally adjust food intake to maintain body-condition under elevated temperatures, and acclimate over time to consume larger meals. However, these increased energetic demands are unlikely to be met by adequate production at lower trophic levels, as smaller prey species are often the first to decline in response to c

SUBMITTER: Johansen JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4561880 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature