bitseriously
Quote from researcher (link and article details below):
"Cold water depresses the metabolic rate and the speed of fish. For roughly every 10 degrees Celsius you drop, the metabolic rates drop about two and a half times." [The cold-blooded species aren't just slower, they're dumber.] "Their brains actually operate at a slower speed, and as their neurons fire more slowly, their reaction times are slower, [meaning] the rate at which they can process sensory information declines and they become effectively stupider."
"Quirks and Quarks" is an awesome radio program and podcast on our beloved (okay, opinions vary) CBC, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. A recent episode included a segment with the attention-grabbing teaser "fish get stupider in cold water". I did an LOL, but it's a nice listen/read. Here's a summary of the "stupider" gem, along with a link to the larger piece, which in turn includes a link to the research article.
Executive summary:
Biologists have noted that warm blooded marine bird and mammal diversity is greater than expected in cold arctic waters. They now surmise that this is because fish, being cold-blooded, are physiologically and intellectually slower in colder waters (neurons literally fire more slowly), whereas birds and mammals remain fast and smart, giving them an edge as predators there. Cold blooded predators like sharks are also at a disadvantage in colder waters, conferring another advantage to birds and mammals (less likely to be eaten).
In warmer waters, sharks (as a typical [mostly] cold-blooded predator) and fish and birds/mammals are all on a more even footing. Fish as prey are faster, but so are fish as predators (ie predators of fish, but also birds/seals). So birds/mammals lose the advantages of being warm-blooded in warm waters. Thereby explaining why they thrive in colder climates.
Don't keep stupid fish. Heat your tank.
Knowledge.
Mic drop.
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/jan...rive-in-the-coldest-places-on-earth-1.4991140
This link includes reference info for the actual paper:
"Cold water depresses the metabolic rate and the speed of fish. For roughly every 10 degrees Celsius you drop, the metabolic rates drop about two and a half times." [The cold-blooded species aren't just slower, they're dumber.] "Their brains actually operate at a slower speed, and as their neurons fire more slowly, their reaction times are slower, [meaning] the rate at which they can process sensory information declines and they become effectively stupider."
"Quirks and Quarks" is an awesome radio program and podcast on our beloved (okay, opinions vary) CBC, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. A recent episode included a segment with the attention-grabbing teaser "fish get stupider in cold water". I did an LOL, but it's a nice listen/read. Here's a summary of the "stupider" gem, along with a link to the larger piece, which in turn includes a link to the research article.
Executive summary:
Biologists have noted that warm blooded marine bird and mammal diversity is greater than expected in cold arctic waters. They now surmise that this is because fish, being cold-blooded, are physiologically and intellectually slower in colder waters (neurons literally fire more slowly), whereas birds and mammals remain fast and smart, giving them an edge as predators there. Cold blooded predators like sharks are also at a disadvantage in colder waters, conferring another advantage to birds and mammals (less likely to be eaten).
In warmer waters, sharks (as a typical [mostly] cold-blooded predator) and fish and birds/mammals are all on a more even footing. Fish as prey are faster, but so are fish as predators (ie predators of fish, but also birds/seals). So birds/mammals lose the advantages of being warm-blooded in warm waters. Thereby explaining why they thrive in colder climates.
Don't keep stupid fish. Heat your tank.
Knowledge.
Mic drop.
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/jan...rive-in-the-coldest-places-on-earth-1.4991140
This link includes reference info for the actual paper:
