Blacktip reef sharks are vulnerable to high water temperatures (31° C)

Coastal and nearshore areas are critical for young fish, including newborn blacktip reef sharks, due to the changes in temperature. However, a study found that these sharks are vulnerable to high water temperatures of 31° C, which resulted in poor recovery after exercise. The researchers also tagged sharks in the wild and observed that they avoided temperatures of 31°C or higher, supporting the idea that these newborn sharks have a narrow tolerance for high temperatures. This highlights the importance of understanding the effects of warming water temperatures on these vulnerable marine species.

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Bouyoucos et al. 2020