Ocean acidification and elevated temperatures alter the behavior of a sub-Antarctic fish

Summary

The interaction of multiple climate change stressors can affect the behavior of marine fish. While these effects have been reported in tropical and temperate species, much less is known for fish inhabiting high latitudes. We analyzed the combined effects of ocean acidification and the highest and lowest seasonal temperatures on the activity level and boldness of Eleginops maclovinus, an ecologically and commercially important notothenioid fish from the subantarctic area. Juveniles were acclimated for one month to two temperatures (T = 4 and 10 °C) and two pCO₂ levels (∼500 and ∼1800 μatm) in a full factorial design. In an open field test, the time spent active was significantly affected by temperature, with fish at 10 °C 1.63 times more active than those at 4 °C, but not by pCO₂ or the interaction (T × pCO₂). No differences were observed in the average swimming velocity measured when active, nor in the time spent in the inner zone of the tank. A refuge emergence test indicated increased boldness under near-future pCO₂ levels with fish emerging 2.06 (4 °C) and 1.23 (10 °C) times faster than those acclimated to present-day pCO₂ levels. The disruptions of these fundamental behaviors by these climate-driven stressors could have consequences for foraging and predator-prey interactions, with likely detrimental effects on the interactions among sympatric subantarctic fishes under projected climate change scenarios.