Herring larvae could benefit from an acidifying ocean

A long-term field study in a Swedish fjord shows how rising carbon dioxide levels can affect food webs and fish survival

Date:

March 29, 2018

Source:

Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Summary:

Excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is making the oceans more acidic. Some studies show that's bad news for fish, including commercially important species. But a new study shows that herring might be able to tolerate this change.

These strange-looking floating objects are really giant plastic test tubes called KOSMOS mesocosms that extend roughly 19 metres deep. Researchers used them to test the response of young herring to ocean acidification.

Credit: KOSMOS/GEOMAR