Thermal Resilience of Feeding Kinematics May Contribute to the Spread of Invasive Fishes in Light of Climate Change

Abstract

As a consequence of global warming, tropical invasive species are expected to expand their range pole-ward, extending their negative impacts to previously undisturbed, high-latitude ecosystems. Investigating the physiological responses of invasive species to environmental temperature is important because the coupled effects of climate change and species invasion on ecosystems could be more alarming than the effects of each phenomenon independently. Especially in poikilotherms, the rate of motion in muscle-driven biomechanical systems is expected to double for every 10 °C increase in temperature. In this study, we address the question, “How does temperature affect the speed of jaw-movement during prey-capture in invasive fishes?” Kinematic analysis of invasive-fish prey-capture behavior revealed that (1) movement velocities of key components of the feeding mechanism did not double as water temperature increased from 20 °C to 30 °C; and (2) thermal sensitivity (Q10 values) for gape, hyoid, lower-jaw rotation, and cranial rotation velocities at 20 °C and 30 °C ranged from 0.56 to 1.44 in all three species. With the exception of lower-jaw rotation, Q10 values were significantly less than the expected Q10 = 2.0, indicating that feeding kinematics remains consistent despite the change in environmental temperature. It is conceivable that the ability to maintain peak performance at different temperatures helps facilitate the spread of invasive fishes globally.

Predicting the effects of body size, temperature and diet on animal feeding rates

“…gape velocity, time to peak gape) might differ from the canonical MTE expectation. That said, the Q10s estimated for these variables are generally lower than those predicted by MTE and the activation energy estimated in our study (Gidmark et al., 2013; Turingan & Sloan, 2016; Table S3). In addition to jaw mechanics and bite kinematics, the nutritional content of the detritus might be decreasing at warming temperatures (as observed in phytoplankton; O’Connor et al., 2009), and consequently fish might exhibit a faster‐than‐predicted bite rate to achieve their nutritional targets which are necessary to maintain bodily functions.…”

“…However, at this point we can only speculate about them. For example, our simplified model did not account for the mechanics of jaw movement; many properties of jaw mechanics are known to scale with body size and change with temperature (Gidmark et al., 2013; Huber & Motta, 2004; Turingan & Sloan, 2016; Wainwright & Shaw, 1999; Wainwright et al., 2000). Particularly, the mass scaling of bite rates could be influenced by the size scaling of jaw opening, whereby larger jaws (i.e.…”

Piscis non grata in the Mediterranean Sea: Pterois miles (Bennett, 1828)

“…Judging from the recent increase in P. miles in the eastern Mediterranean Sea (Filiz et al, 2017), we suspect that a rapid expansion throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Indeed, in both its native and introduced ranges, lionfishes thrive in warm waters ideally between 20 and 30 °C (Turingan and Sloan, 2016), so, given the predicted increases in water temperature expected in the Mediterranean, the ability for long distance dispersal of planktonic larvae, and the generality of habitat use it is expected that the invaded area will continue to expand. All the recent findings of P. miles may be an indication of a new wave of arrivals of the species in the eastern Mediterranean, raising justifiable concerns of a possible onset of a new invasion mentioned by Bariche et al (2013) in the Mediterranean Sea.…”

Combined Effects of Acute Temperature Change and Elevated pCO2 on the Metabolic Rates and Hypoxia Tolerances of Clearnose Skate (Rostaraja eglanteria), Summer Flounder (Paralichthys dentatus), and Thorny Skate (Amblyraja radiata)

“…Clearnose skate and summer flounder exhibited lower Q 10 values (Q 10 = 1.62 and 1.07, respectively) at present day p CO 2 than the thorny skate (Q 10 = 3.87). While Q 10 values lower than 2 have been associated with a decreasing ability to function [86], for the two Mid-Atlantic estuarine species studied here (i.e., clearnose skate and summer flounder), the low Q 10 values are rather indicative of the ability to maintain a consistent level of aerobic ATP production over a relatively broad range of temperatures [37,87], potentially signifying resilience to the coastal warming predicted under climate change [23]. High Q 10 values, in contrast, have been attributed to species from stable environments [88].…”