The start of something new

I am not sure if most of y'all know this but I am a marine science major. I love every aspect of it... except for the all the physics and chemistry that is necessary to know. At least some of it. It's just not my passion by any means and I couldn't wait to get most of it over with. Most people think that marine science is automatically marine biology and we play with dolphins and whales ALL the time. That's nowhere near true. The majority of the time we are dealing with things that to the naked eye you can't see. They are what affects the organisms most within the ocean. Anyways... so the point behind me writing this is that I NEVER go along with this whole wordless wednesday or whatnot. So each Wednesday I am going to post information that is new in the marine science community. It may bring light to some people. If I don't have anything good to write I may just write about some of my experiences out in the field or through my coursework. So here it goes... my very first one :)


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((((ppm=parts per million))))

Climate change is having a dramatic affect on the oceans -- rising sea levels, warming temperatures, increased acidity -- all of which will take it's toll on sea life. The clownfish will have a particularly hard time surviving, as scientists have discovered that rising CO2 levels in the oceans alter their sense of smell, preventing them from evading predators and finding shelter.

Researchers at James Cook University simulated CO2 levels within the range predicted for the end of the century with clownfish larvae. The experiments tested their behavior at increasing concentrations. At 550 ppm of CO2, the current concentration, larvae were able to detect a predator and swim in the opposite direction, but as the concentrations rose to 700 ppm, only half the larvae swam away, with the other half swimming toward a predator.

At the highest concentration, 850 ppm, their sense of smell was completely askew and all larvae swam toward the predator.

The same researchers carried out experiments last year that showed that rising CO2 levels also prevented baby clownfish from being able to find their way home.

The researchers think that the CO2 could be affecting the fishes' neurons and confusing how they perceive threats and interpret smells and that other fish will likely be similarly affected.

DID YOU KNOW???
Sea anemones and Clownfish have a symbiotic relationship. The Clown Fish consider the sea anemones to be their home and are naturally territorial organisms. Due to this they protect the sea anemones from predators. Clown fish are the only fish that is able to be around the sea anemones without being stung by their nematocysts- the organelles that sting people (They are what jellyfish haave that affect us so much). All fish have a mucus coating around them so that they are able to swim a bit more fluidly than they could without. Well it is thought that the mucus coating of the clownfish may be based on sugars rather than regular proteins. Due to this the sea anemone may fail to recognize the fish as a potential food source and thusly do not fire their nematocysts.

Did you also know that Clown fish can only have one male in a community? There is one dominant male, a dominant female, and the rest are female. When the male in the group dies the dominant female changes their anatomy into a male. This is because the concentration of the pheromones that are secreted by the male decreases and thus the dominant female "transforms" into a male. I do not lie.