This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Adelaide University researchers have found that some estuarine fishes that live in habitats with highly variable temperatures can withstand the warmer ocean conditions expected to result from climate change. The study, published in Global Change Biology, shows estuarine fishes' resilience to these extreme conditions is genetically determined.
"Climatic extremes are increasing in frequency, intensity and duration across Earth's biomes as a consequence of anthropogenic climate change," said project leader Ivan Nagelkerken, from Adelaide University's School of Biological Sciences. "In aquatic systems, climatic extremes can rapidly restructure communities, disrupt ecosystem functioning and compromise ecosystem services, including fisheries productivity. "Our study examined the resilience of three economically important estuarine species, which we found to be 'thermal generalists' with a genetic ability to withstand extreme conditions." The study, conducted by Dr.
Angus Mitchell, focused on yellowfin bream, sand whiting and tarwhine because of the species' important role in the fisheries industry. "Yellowfin bream and sand whiting are among the most commonly caught inshore species by recreational and commercial fishers on the east coast," Mitchell said. "They're what people target to take home, so understanding whether they can cope with warming estuaries matters directly for the fisheries that coastal communities depend on." While these fishes are primed for extreme conditions, many marine habitats are already experiencing changes in species distribution due to climate change.
"We're already seeing tropical species push farther south as waters warm, reshuffling which fish support local fisheries," Nagelkerken said. "Our results suggest estuarine species with broad thermal tolerance may hold their ground, but that won't extend to species with narrower limits such as coral reef fishes." Nagelkerken said these results provide hope for the future, but he highlighted that many other species are more sensitive to climate change. "Many estuaries are increasingly subject to other types of human pressures, such as pollution and overfishing," he said.
"Hence, we need to manage our estuaries well to sustain the fisheries species that are set to be more resilient to a future climate." Angus Mitchell et al., Thermal Generalism Shapes Tolerance to Extreme Heatwaves in Estuarine Fishes, Global Change Biology (2026). DOI: 10.1111/gcb.71143 Journal information: Global Change Biology Swati Mestri holds a bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering and has worked as a content editor since 2019. She has experience editing research documents across technology, health care, and materials science, and has a particular interest in technology and space.
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