A study conducted by researchers from the University of Gothenburg found that sea anemones which respond more slowly to changes in their environment are better equipped to survive heatwaves compared to those that quickly change their behavior. This study was conducted along the Atlantic coasts of Europe where many marine species are exposed to abrupt shifts in habitat due to tides, storms, and rapid temperature changes. The research suggests that a slower reaction to change can provide a survival advantage in these challenging conditions.In a climate change, there is an expectation for heatwaves to occur more frequently. Researchers wanted to explore how coastal marine species handle extreme water temperatures. For their study, they selected the sea anemone species Actinia equina, which is known for its distinctive behaviors.
Different Personalities
“We refer to them as animal personalities. These are various behavioral strategies observed within the same species. The anemones we examined display two personality traits: bold and shy. Interestingly, during extreme heat waves, the shy anemones show better resilience,” explained Lynne Sneddon, a zoophysiologist from the University of Gothenburg and one of the study’s authors. The findings were published in a study.In the Journal of Experimental Biology, researchers discuss the concept of shy and bold behaviors in anemones and how these behaviors impact anemones’ risk-taking. Both shy and bold behaviors have their advantages, which is why they have survived in evolution. Bold anemones are quicker to react to environmental changes compared to shy anemones. This means that bold anemones are faster to open their tentacles to forage after a change, allowing them to trap more nutrients in the water and gain a competitive advantage. However, bold anemones also become more vulnerable in extreme conditions, such as heat waves. This study sheds light on the behavior of anemones.The study demonstrates that in extremely hot water, it is a better survival strategy to be a shy individual. “We measured the metabolism of the anemones and found that when the water temperature was high, the bold anemones experienced a significant increase in their metabolism. This meant that they had to consume more nutrients to the point of risking death. The shy anemones, on the other hand, experienced a less significant increase in metabolism, allowing them to better cope with the heat stress,” explains Lynne Sneddon. In coasts with large tidal differences, water collects in “rock pools” that warm up quickly on the ebb tide before the next floo.Anemones living in tidal pools are at risk from large temperature changes caused by heat waves and colder seawater. Researcher Lynne Sneddon warns that if cold-blooded animals like anemones can’t adapt to these changes, it could disrupt ecosystems and have impacts on the food web. The study focused on anemones, but it is believed that other species may also be affected. (Journal Reference: Daniel K. Maskrey, Shaun S. Killen, Lynne U. Sneddon, Kathr).yn E. Arnold, David C. C. Wolfenden, Jack S. Thomson. Differential metabolic responses in bold and shy sea anemones during a simulated heatwave. Journal of Experimental Biology, 2024; 227 (3) DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244662