Nature World News reports on a little mangrove-estuary dwelling fish that adapts to warmer waters by jumping into the air to cool down:
In humid heat in tropical mangroves, tiny rivulus fish actually jump out of the water in order to cool off, says a new study from the University of Guelph.
The researchers said that the fish, Kryptolebias marmoratus, lowered their body temperatures by chilling themselves in the air. Also, later, when they were more accustomed to the heat after having experienced higher temperatures for a week, they coped better with warm water, according to a release.
Before that happens, though, jumping is important to the fish in leaving behind rising temperatures for a bit, said Pat Wright, lead author on the study and integrative biology professor at University of Guelph, in the release. “If the fish are prevented from jumping out of the water, they would die.
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In warming water, fish hurled themselves out of the water and onto moist filter paper. There, they cooled nearly right away. After one minute, the fish body temperatures were below that of the filter paper.
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With more at U Guelph….