Diving in a warming world: the thermal sensitivity and plasticity of diving performance in juvenile estuarine crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus)

Essie M. Rodgers; Jonathon J. Schwartz; Craig E. Franklin

doi:10.1093/conphys/cov054

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Diving in a warming world: the thermal sensitivity and plasticity of diving performance in juvenile estuarine crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus)

Journal article

Open access

Diving in a warming world: the thermal sensitivity and plasticity of diving performance in juvenile estuarine crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus)

Essie M. Rodgers, Jonathon J. Schwartz and Craig E. Franklin

Conservation physiology, Vol.3(1), cov054

2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/conphys/cov054

PMCID: PMC4778457

PMID: 27293738

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Abstract

Climate change

diving behaviour

diving physiology

ectotherm

physiological plasticity

thermal acclimation

Air-breathing, diving ectotherms are a crucial component of the biodiversity and functioning of aquatic ecosystems, but these organisms may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change on submergence times. Ectothermic dive capacity is thermally sensitive, with dive durations significantly reduced by acute increases in water temperature; it is unclear whether diving performance can acclimate/acclimatize in response to long-term exposure to elevated water temperatures. We assessed the thermal sensitivity and plasticity of ‘fright-dive’ capacity in juvenile estuarine crocodiles ( Crocodylus porosus ; n = 11). Crocodiles were exposed to one of three long-term thermal treatments, designed to emulate water temperatures under differing climate change scenarios (i.e. current summer, 28°C; ‘moderate’ climate warming, 31.5°C; ‘high’ climate warming, 35°C). Dive trials were conducted in a temperature-controlled tank across a range of water temperatures. Dive durations were independent of thermal acclimation treatment, indicating a lack of thermal acclimation response. Acute increases in water temperature resulted in significantly shorter dive durations, with mean submergence times effectively halving with every 3.5°C increase in water temperature ( Q10 0.17, P < 0.001). Maximal dive performances, however, were found to be thermally insensitive across the temperature range of 28–35°C. These results suggest that C. porosus have a limited or non-existent capacity to thermally acclimate sustained ‘fright-dive’ performance. If the findings here are applicable to other air-breathing, diving ectotherms, the functional capacity of these organisms will probably be compromised under climate warming.

Details

Title: Diving in a warming world: the thermal sensitivity and plasticity of diving performance in juvenile estuarine crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus)
Authors/Creators: Essie M. Rodgers - The University of Queensland
Jonathon J. Schwartz - The University of Queensland
Craig E. Franklin - The University of Queensland
Publication Details: Conservation physiology, Vol.3(1), cov054
Publisher: Oxford Univ Press
Number of pages: 9
Grant note: University of Queensland [CFRAAA]
Identifiers: 991005560447807891
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.35 Zoology & Animal Ecology; 3.35.683 Reptile Ecology
Web Of Science research areas: Biodiversity Conservation; Ecology; Environmental Sciences; Physiology
ESI research areas: Environment/Ecology