#ThrowbackThursday – Performance of the long-snouted seahorse, Hippocampus guttulatus, under warming conditions

Ocean warming is reshaping the physiology and behaviour of marine species, including seahorses.

In this #ThrowbackThursday study on the long-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus), researchers found that increased temperatures led to higher activity levels and greater feeding rates. However, this increased energy intake did not translate into measurable growth gains.

Instead, results suggest a potential trade-off under warming conditions, where energy is diverted toward maintaining heightened activity rather than growth. At the highest temperature tested, findings also point to possible thermal stress. These insights are important for understanding how climate change may affect the performance and resilience of species with limited mobility and specialized life histories.

Read more: https://projectseahorse.org/resource/performance-long-snouted-seahorse/