Shrinking fish 水溫高魚變小

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根據一項新的科研報告，世界各地的魚類的體重和體積預計將縮小達 24%。研究人員說，不斷上升的水溫會減少海水的氧氣含量，這將導致魚類體重的顯著減少。請聽BBC科學記者 Matt McGrath 發回的報道：

Although projections of global temperature rises show relatively small changes at the bottom of the oceans, the resulting impacts on fish body size are "unexpectedly large", according to this research. As ocean temperatures increase, so do the body temperatures and metabolic rates of the fish. This means they use more oxygen to stay alive and, according to the researchers, they have less available for growth.

They've calculated that up to 2050, fish will shrink in size by between 14 and 24 percent, with the Indian and Atlantic Oceans worst affected. The warming waters are also likely to drive fish more towards the poles, leading to smaller species living in areas like the North Sea.

According to the scientists, their models may underestimate the potential impacts. When they looked at case studies involving North Atlantic cod and haddock, they found that recorded data on these fish showed greater decreases in actual body size than the models predicted.