Nature & Environment
Climate Change: Fishing Impacted by Warmer Temperatures as Bass Move North
Catherine Griffin
First Posted: Jul 15, 2015 09:40 AM EDT
Climate change may be having an impact on your fishing. Scientists have discovered that as temperatures warm, fish are moving to newly warmed waters, putting local species at risk.
In this latest study, the researchers wanted to see which species would be most impacted by others moving into their environment. That's why scientists examined the impact of several species of bass, fish that prefer warm water and have expanded their range northward over the past 30 years as temperatures have increased.
The researchers examined both historical and recent data for 30 different fish species in more than 1500 lakes throughout Ontario. In most cases, they found bass and smaller fish species did not share the lake for long-the bass wiped out vulnerable fish species in relatively short order, in part by taking a share of the food available and in part by predation.
"We found that prized sportfish, such as Brook trout and the smaller fish that trout eat, are disappearing from lakes where species of bass have expanded their habitats," said Karen Alofs, one of the researchers, in a news release.
The findings reveal that climate change may be huge part of changing ecosystems. If a dominant species can thrive in a warmer environment, they're going to have a better chance of wiping out other species. This could, in turn, cause less diversity which could then have economic repercussions.
"It's important to anticipate how climate change will shape future fish communities, and ultimately fishing opportunities and the sustainability of aquatic ecosystems," said Alofs. "We are just beginning to understand the variety of indirect consequences related to climate change."
The findings are published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
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First Posted: Jul 15, 2015 09:40 AM EDT
Climate change may be having an impact on your fishing. Scientists have discovered that as temperatures warm, fish are moving to newly warmed waters, putting local species at risk.
In this latest study, the researchers wanted to see which species would be most impacted by others moving into their environment. That's why scientists examined the impact of several species of bass, fish that prefer warm water and have expanded their range northward over the past 30 years as temperatures have increased.
The researchers examined both historical and recent data for 30 different fish species in more than 1500 lakes throughout Ontario. In most cases, they found bass and smaller fish species did not share the lake for long-the bass wiped out vulnerable fish species in relatively short order, in part by taking a share of the food available and in part by predation.
"We found that prized sportfish, such as Brook trout and the smaller fish that trout eat, are disappearing from lakes where species of bass have expanded their habitats," said Karen Alofs, one of the researchers, in a news release.
The findings reveal that climate change may be huge part of changing ecosystems. If a dominant species can thrive in a warmer environment, they're going to have a better chance of wiping out other species. This could, in turn, cause less diversity which could then have economic repercussions.
"It's important to anticipate how climate change will shape future fish communities, and ultimately fishing opportunities and the sustainability of aquatic ecosystems," said Alofs. "We are just beginning to understand the variety of indirect consequences related to climate change."
The findings are published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
Related Stories
Climate Change: Ocean Warming Causes Stronger Rainfall Extremes
For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone