A recent study led by Newcastle University scientists reveals that clownfish, the orange-and-white species popularized by “Finding Nemo,” shrink their size to better survive marine heat waves. The research monitored 134 clownfish at a Papua New Guinea conservation center during a 2023 heat wave, tracking fish length and water temperature over five months.
Lead author Melissa Versteeg found that as temperatures rose, 100 of the clownfish shrank—a first for coral reef fish adapting to environmental stress. This shrinking improved their survival chances by up to 78 percent. Despite reduced reproduction in smaller fish, this “growth plasticity” offers an adaptive advantage as marine heat waves increase with climate change.
The study also highlighted that breeding pairs often shrink simultaneously to avoid social conflict, maintaining balance between the larger female and smaller male clownfish. Their survival depends on the symbiotic relationship with protective sea anemones, making cooperation crucial.
Scientists plan to explore the mechanisms behind this shrinking ability and whether other fish species share it, potentially explaining widespread fish size declines.
Source: Swifteradio.com
