A species of Antarctic fish might be able to survive the predicted warming of its native waters over the next century if the warming is gradual enough, according to a New Zealand scientist.
University of Canterbury researcher Charlotte Austin tested how the emerald rock cod adapted to warmer waters after being removed from its minus 1.9-degree centigrade habitat below the Antarctic ice, Xinhua reported.
The fish were able to fully recover from short exposures to temperatures up to 6 degrees centigrade, but long periods of time at 4 degrees centigrade was fatal, Austin said in a statement Thursday.
However, if the temperature increase was gradual, all fish tested survived the 56 days of the experiment at 3 degrees centigrade and were able to successfully digest food, a vital physiological process for survival, she said.
The results provide some optimism for the survival of this species if ocean temperature in Antarctic does not exceed the predicted increase of 2 degrees centigrade over the next century.
Austin said Antarctic cod dominated the Southern Ocean and were vital to the food-web and ecosystem due to a wide range of predators, including whales, orca, seals, penguins and other fish.
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Several species have been targeted by humans for commercial fisheries and the sustainability of the largest cod species, the Antarctic toothfish, is a subject of contention.
The adult emerald rock cod is about 170 mm in length, while the Antarctic toothfish could exceed two metres when fully grown.