Clownfish grow to the size of their native sea anemones. Researchers have now discovered this through experimental laboratory studies in which they observed clownfish in anemones of various sizes. It is not yet clear how exactly the adjustment works.
“We first found a close correlation between the sizes in a wild population in Papua New Guinea and then experimentally investigated the mechanisms behind this correlation in the laboratory,” lead author Theresa Rueger of the University of Newcastle told Germany’s news agency. “For this, we bred young clownfish of the same size on anemones of very different sizes.”
Protection from predators
Fish that live in larger sea anemones grow faster than fish that live in smaller ones. This would optimize the animals’ ability to reproduce, it said. Larger fish can reproduce better. However, if they are too big for their anemones, they are less able to hide from predators. That’s why the adaptation is important for the fish, it said.
difference cannot be explained
“The difference could not be explained by different feed intake, as we gave all fish the same amount of food,” says Rueger. The available space alone was not a reason either, as the effect could not be seen to the same extent with artificial silicone anemones. Exactly how the adaptation works now needs to be elucidated through further research.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
