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Impaired learning of predators and lower prey survival under elevated CO 2 : a consequence of neurotransmitter interference
Author(s) -
Chivers Douglas P.,
McCormick Mark I.,
Nilsson Göran E.,
Munday Philip L.,
Watson SueAnn,
Meekan Mark G.,
Mitchell Matthew D.,
Corkill Katherine C.,
Ferrari Maud C. O.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
global change biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.146
H-Index - 255
eISSN - 1365-2486
pISSN - 1354-1013
DOI - 10.1111/gcb.12291
Subject(s) - neurotransmitter , predation , neurotransmitter receptor , biology , damselfish , population , ecology , neuroscience , receptor , medicine , biochemistry , central nervous system , coral reef fish , environmental health , habitat
Ocean acidification is one of the most pressing environmental concerns of our time, and not surprisingly, we have seen a recent explosion of research into the physiological impacts and ecological consequences of changes in ocean chemistry. We are gaining considerable insights from this work, but further advances require greater integration across disciplines. Here, we showed that projected near‐future CO 2 levels impaired the ability of damselfish to learn the identity of predators. These effects stem from impaired neurotransmitter function; impaired learning under elevated CO 2 was reversed when fish were treated with gabazine, an antagonist of the GABA ‐A receptor – a major inhibitory neurotransmitter receptor in the brain of vertebrates. The effects of CO 2 on learning and the link to neurotransmitter interference were manifested as major differences in survival for fish released into the wild. Lower survival under elevated CO 2 , as a result of impaired learning, could have a major influence on population recruitment.