Researchers from Australia studied epaulette sharks from the Great Barrier Reef
This species lays eggs that are left unprotected for four months before hatching
The team explored the impact of increasing water temperatures up to 87.8°F
Warmer conditions cause the embryos to grow faster and use up their yolk sac
This meant the hatchlings emerged earlier and weaker than they would normally
Temperatures on the Great Barrier Reef are expected to hit 87.8°F this century
Credit: E.Moothart
A new study conducted at the New England Aquarium finds that as climate change causes the ocean to warm, baby sharks are born smaller, exhausted, undernourished, and into environments that are already difficult for them to survive in.
In a recently published paper in the journal
Scientific Reports, lead author Carolyn Wheeler, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Massachusetts Boston and at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University, examined the effects of increased temperatures on the growth, development and physiological performance of epaulette sharks an egg-laying species found only on the Great Barrier Reef. Wheeler studied the sharks as embryos and hatchlings, under the supervision of Dr. John Mandelman, Vice President and Chief Scientist of the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium.
Baby shark study reveals impacts of climate change on Great Barrier Reef species
TueTuesday 12
Epaulette sharks found only on the Great Barrier Reef are usually tolerant to challenging conditions.
(
Share
Print text only
Cancel
Baby sharks will find it difficult to survive on the Great Barrier Reef by the end of the century, scientists say, with climate change and warmer oceans leading to the creatures being born smaller, exhausted and undernourished.
Key points:
The study looked at the growth of epaulette shark hatchlings in controlled settings simulating future ocean temperatures
It found sharks were born smaller and lacking the energy needed for their first days of life