Friday, 11 July 2014

Wildlife

Global Warming Causing Fish Heart Failure

It seems that some species of fish just don’t have the heart to endure a warming climate.

A New Zealand scientist says that climate change could be a leading factor in heart failure for some fish because the creatures aren’t able to maintain an optimum body temperature in the warmer waters.

The University of Auckland study found that when three fish species from various environments were exposed to warmer water, their hearts failed to function as temperatures increased.

Biologist Anthony Hickey said the Australian tropical fish known as moon wrasse proved to be the most sensitive to the warmer water.

Hickey said the fish can withstand a rise in temperature of only a few degrees before cell structures in their hearts, known as mitochondria, fail to function.

The findings could have implications for the world’s food supply.

The moon wrasse, found in Australian waters, is among the fish species most sensitive to warming waters.

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