An epaulette shark on a beach in Port Tribulation. Credit: Wikipedia.
New research suggests warmer oceans would cause baby sharks to be born smaller and undernourished on the Great Barrier Reef.
The study – conducted by James Cook University PhD candidate Carolyn Wheeler – found epaulette sharks hatch prematurely in too-warm waters, impacting the species growth, development and physiological performance.
Ms Wheeler and her research team recently studied the species as embryos and hatchlings at JCU s ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies.
Ms Wheeler said her findings on the egg-laying species, found only on the Great Barrier Reef, flags rising ocean temperatures as a major concern for the future of all sharks.
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