Research
Some Australian fish are handling heat that should push their limits
Earth.com · By Eric Ralls ·
The Brief
- Some estuaries on Australia's east coast already reach about 98°F (37°C) in summer.
- That is hotter than the harshest projections for the end of this century, according to the source.
- Fish in these estuaries continue to feed, grow, and get caught, despite the heat.
Why it matters
Estuarine fish living near their thermal limits show that current heat tolerance may be higher than some climate projections assume, which matters for forecasting how marine species will respond to warming.
Who’s affected
- marine ecologists
- fisheries scientists and managers
- anyone with a stake in Australian estuary fisheries
- #fish
- #marine heatwave
- #estuaries
- #thermal tolerance
- #australia
- #climate change
A marine heatwave is supposed to be bad news for fish. Yet some estuaries on Australia’s east coast already reach about 98°F (37°C) in summer. That’s hotter than the harshest projections for the end of this century, and the fish there keep feeding, growing, and getting caught…