A new study out recently shows that Clownfish are at risk of extinction due to climate change.
The study into Clownfish was done by the National Centre for Scientific Research in France. The research was done on Clownfish over a period of ten years. The team from the National Centre for Scientific Research found that Clownfish could not adapt to changes in their environment. In other words, the team found that these animals couldn’t cope with the changes in their habitat due to climate change.
Where are Clownfish found?
Clownfish are found in the Southern Hemisphere. They are found most famously off the coast of Australia, in the iconic natural beauty: the Great Barrier Reef.
These small colourful fish are also found off of the coast of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Most of their population is found in the surrounding waters of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
What is their conservation status?
The IUCN right now classes Clownfish as ‘least concern’, this means that Clownfish aren’t classed as endangered or critically endangered. It also means that the population of Clownfish right now isn’t low.
Despite this, if, as this latest report suggests that Clownfish cannot adapt to warming waters, then these fish could see a significant drop in their population over the coming years and threatened. Due to Clownfish not adapting to warming waters, it could result in these animals becoming extinct at some point in the future due to climate change.
How much of a threat is climate change to Clownfish?
Sadly, climate change has resulted in the mass bleaching of coral reefs in the Great Barrier Reef. Mass bleaching of coral reefs has been happening since 2015 in the Great Barrier Reef, which has killed off huge areas of reefs.
Marine animals native to the Great Barrier Reef depend on these coral reefs for their survival, including the Clownfish. If the corals continue to be bleached then it will harm, or even kill marine animals in this habitat that depend on areas like the Great Barrier Reef for their survival.
If we don’t stop climate change, then areas like the Great Barrier Reef will be gone, and animals like the Clownfish will become extinct.
Sources:
http://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/24393/20191204/clownfish.htm
https://www.whoi.edu/press-room/news-release/clownfish-cant-adapt-to-rapid-environmental-changes/
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/188372/1865631