title: Ocean acidification affects fish spawning but not paternity at CO2 seeps.
abstract: Fish exhibit impaired sensory function and altered behaviour at levels of ocean acidification expected to occur owing to anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions during this century. We provide the first evidence of the effects of ocean acidification on reproductive behaviour of fish in the wild. Satellite and sneaker male ocellated wrasse (Symphodus ocellatus) compete to fertilize eggs guarded by dominant nesting males. Key mating behaviours such as dominant male courtship and nest defence did not differ between sites with ambient versus elevated CO2 concentrations. Dominant males did, however, experience significantly lower rates of pair spawning at elevated CO2 levels. Despite the higher risk of sperm competition found at elevated CO2, we also found a trend of lower satellite and sneaker male paternity at elevated CO2 Given the importance of fish for food security and ecosystem stability, this study highlights the need for targeted research into the effects of rising CO2 levels on patterns of reproduction in wild fish.
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), CoNISMa, University of Palermo, Palermo 90123, Italy marco.milazzo@unipa.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2202-0542
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milazzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), CoNISMa, University of Palermo, Palermo 90123, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cattano
authors.affiliation: PBSci-Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA.
authors.forename: Suzanne H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Alonzo
authors.affiliation: Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, Plymouth University, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Foggo
authors.affiliation: CNR-IAMC, Mazara del Vallo (TP), 91026, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gristina
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR 250 ENTROPIE, Nouméa, 98848, New Caledonia.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodolfo-Metalpa
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Palermo 90143, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sinopoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), CoNISMa, University of Palermo, Palermo 90123, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spatafora
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT 06515, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Stiver
authors.affiliation: Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, Plymouth University, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK International Educational and Research Laboratory Program, Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 5-10-1 Shimoda, Shizuoka 415-0025, Japan.
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hall-Spencer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010473:Perciformes / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide
keywords: CO2 vent; Labrid; alternative reproductive tactics; climate change; pH