When the temperature increases, so do the energetic requirements of species. We find that the energetic stress caused by increases in temperature pushes fish species to consume the first prey they encounter to fulfil their immediate needs, rather than focusing on more energetically rewarding prey. This behaviour increases the vulnerability of communities to climate change.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$29.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Dill, L. M. Adaptive flexibility in the foraging behavior of fishes. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 40, 398–408 (1983). A review article that presents how different fish species adapt their diet to local environmental conditions.
Kondoh, M. Foraging adaptation and the relationship between food-web complexity and stability. Science 299, 1388–1391 (2003). A research article suggesting that the adaptation of consumers’ foraging behaviour can be a key factor explaining the high level of biodiversity observed in ecosystems.
Gauzens, B. et al. Quantitative description of six fish species’ gut contents and prey abundances in the Baltic Sea (1968–1978). Sci. Data 11, 236 (2024). This paper compiles the data from the fishing campaigns led by Arntz.
Additional information
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
This is a summary of: Gauzens, B. et al. Flexible foraging behaviour increases predator vulnerability to climate change. Nat. Clim. Change https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-01946-y (2024).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
The foraging behaviour of consumers leads to more extinctions when temperature increases. Nat. Clim. Chang. 14, 320–321 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-01969-5
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-01969-5
