Physiological constraints to climate warming in fish follow principles of plastic floors and concrete ceilings

Erik Sandblom (), Timothy D. Clark, Albin Gräns, Andreas Ekström, Jeroen Brijs, L. Fredrik Sundström, Anne Odelström, Anders Adill, Teija Aho and Fredrik Jutfelt
Additional contact information
Erik Sandblom: University of Gothenburg, Box 463
Timothy D. Clark: University of Tasmania and CSIRO Agriculture Flagship
Albin Gräns: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 234
Andreas Ekström: University of Gothenburg, Box 463
Jeroen Brijs: University of Gothenburg, Box 463
L. Fredrik Sundström: Uppsala University, Box 592
Anne Odelström: Institute of Coastal Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skolgatan 6
Anders Adill: Institute of Coastal Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skolgatan 6
Teija Aho: Institute of Coastal Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skolgatan 6
Fredrik Jutfelt: Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Understanding the resilience of aquatic ectothermic animals to climate warming has been hindered by the absence of experimental systems experiencing warming across relevant timescales (for example, decades). Here, we examine European perch (Perca fluviatilis, L.) from the Biotest enclosure, a unique coastal ecosystem that maintains natural thermal fluctuations but has been warmed by 5–10 °C by a nuclear power plant for over three decades. We show that Biotest perch grow faster and display thermally compensated resting cardiorespiratory functions compared with reference perch living at natural temperatures in adjacent waters. However, maximum cardiorespiratory capacities and heat tolerance limits exhibit limited or no thermal compensation when compared with acutely heated reference perch. We propose that while basal energy requirements and resting cardiorespiratory functions (floors) are thermally plastic, maximum capacities and upper critical heat limits (ceilings) are much less flexible and thus will limit the adaptive capacity of fishes in a warming climate.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11447

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