Interacting Stressors: Metabolic Capacity to Acclimate under Ocean Warming and CO2- Acidification in Early Developmental Stages of Antarctic Fishes

Antarctic marine organisms have evolved to survive in stable, cold ocean conditions and possess a limited capacity to respond to environmental change. Research to date on Antarctic fishes has focused on adult life stages with much less research on early life stages that likely prioritize growth and development and not physiological mechanisms of stress tolerance. This project addresses the mechanisms that early life stages (embryos, larvae and juveniles) of Antarctic fishes use to respond to changes in ocean conditions.

Specifically, the project will examine energetic trade-offs between key developmental processes in the context of environmental change. While the project focuses on Antarctic species, the research is highly translatable to stress tolerance mechanisms of fishes along the coast of North America, many of which are also experiencing changes in multiple environmental factors. Research in the Antarctic allows scientists to identify unifying themes or generalities in physiology that extend beyond the waters of the Southern Ocean and therefore have broad implications for understanding what is limiting the performance of fishes globally.

BROADER IMPACTS –To build environmental stewardship and awareness, we must increase science literacy in the broader community. This project does this through three main objectives. First is to increase the diversity of students involved in environmental science research.

Student diversity, in turn, gives the scientific community a broader perspective for addressing critical challenges in environmental biology. This project provides resources to support three PhD students, one postdoctoral scholar and two undergraduate students and promotes the diversity of young scientists and the advancement of groups traditionally underrepresented in environmental biology. Todgham will broaden the outreach effort by developing exhibits on environmental change impacts on polar regions for large public events, an opportunity to engage K-12 students, government officials in Sacramento and local and statewide communities.

Lastly, through a collaboration with PolarTREC and teacher Denise Hardoy, lesson plans have been developed to teach K-12 students about experimental design, polar environments and sensitivity of Antarctic species to climate change.