title: Behavioural disturbances in a temperate fish exposed to sustained high-CO2 levels.
abstract: As atmospheric CO2 levels rise, the CO2 concentration in ocean surface waters increases through a process commonly referred to as ocean acidification. Recently, surprising behavioural modifications has been detected in the early life stages of tropical coral reef fish exposed to ocean acidification-relevant CO2 concentrations, but it has been unclear if this effect could occur in temperate waters. Here we show several severe behavioural disturbances, including effects on boldness, exploratory behaviour, lateralisation, and learning in a temperate fish, the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). The behavioural effects were consistent throughout the exposure period and increased in effect size with exposure time. We observed the effects on adult sticklebacks, a species known to be tolerant to other environmental stressors. Our findings suggest that behavioural abnormalities that stem from CO2 exposure are not restricted to sensitive tropical species or early life stages and may therefore affect fish on a global scale. The severity of disturbances and the possibility of a serious behavioural problem for fish across the globe is cause for concern.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. fredrik.jutfelt@bioenv.gu.se
authors.forename: Fredrik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jutfelt
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bresolin de Souza
authors.forename: Amandine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vuylsteke
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sturve
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D023701:Smegmamorpha; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide