Lack of oxygen in marine environments may threaten fish populations, study led by Hong Kong scientist finds
- Study led by marine scientist Rudolf Wu of Education University finds eggs of adult female fish either died off after failing to develop normally, or did not hatch due to low oxygen
- Wu says apart from ecosystem concerns, the research also has implications for human health, as the reproductive systems of humans and fish are 90 per cent similar
A lack of oxygen in marine environments made worse by climate change may threaten fish populations worldwide, as it affects the reproductive functions of female fish, a study led by a Hong Kong scientist forecasts.
The research showed that the eggs of multiple generations of females were unable to develop properly – even in later generations not exposed to a lack of oxygen, also known as hypoxia.
“The results of this study show the effect on fish reproduction is worse than we originally thought, as it cuts the numbers of subsequent generations of fish by up to 30 per cent each,” the research team’s leader, marine scientist Rudolf Wu Shiu-sun, said.
“At this rate, it can be deduced that the fish will eventually become extinct.”
The study also has potential implications for humans, as the reproductive systems of humans and fish are 90 per cent similar, according to Wu, a professor at the Education University of Hong Kong.
Previous studies have shown, for instance, that men suffering from sleep apnoea – a condition that interrupts breathing – often exhibit lower levels of male and female sex hormones as well as a reduced sex drive.