In an article published in the latest issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS), the team found that as carbon dioxide levels rise and ocean water acidifies, the behaviour of baby fish changes dramatically—in ways that decrease their chances of survival by 500 to 800 per cent.

“The release of greenhouse gases dramatically influences the pH levels of oceans, and the consequences for marine biodiversity will be profound,” said University of Saskatchewan biologist Doug Chivers who is part of the Australian-led research team.

“My prediction is that if you want to see a coral reef in its ‘natural state’, you will have about a decade to see it before it starts to undergo major irreversible changes.”

Chivers was invited to participate in the research due to his expertise in fish behavioural and evolutional ecology as a member of the U of S water research group.

“Prof. Chivers’ involvement in this groundbreaking international research underscores our expertise and commitment to helping solve global water issues and exemplifies why water security is one of our distinguishing signature areas of research at the University of Saskatchewan,” said U of S Vice-President Research Karen Chad.

More information about the study is available at the James Cook University’s Australian Research Council’s Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (CoECRS) website: http://www.coralcoe.org.au/ The article is available on the PNAS website at: http://www.pnas.org/content/early/recent

For more information about world-leading U of S water research, please visit: http://www.usask.ca/water

-30-

For more information, please contact:

Doug Chivers
Department of Biology
College of Arts and Science
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4419
doug.chivers@usask.ca

Mark Ferguson
Communications Officer
University Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-1851
m.ferguson@usask.ca

Kathryn Warden
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
kathryn.warden@usask.ca