Coralfish are very important to marine ecosystems. However, this diverse fish is threatened due to pollution and climate change. Color is one of the most distinctive characteristics of coral fish. It is colored mainly due to pigments produced by proteins inside the body, reflecting different light types.
They then absorb a color of light and determine what color they will be next. In a study published in the open access journal PLOS Biology, scientists were able to track coral larvae using the staining method. In this case they take the help of the color of the fish.
Researchers have discovered areas of the ocean where coral fish live. They are currently facing threats due to marine pollution, climate change and ocean acidification.
Coral fish can normally swim long distances in the ocean. They are more challenging to track because of their larger travel radius. A team of researchers is testing new tracking methods.
With the new method they were able to collect about 3000 larvae. The larvae were then incubated in various concentrations of colored dyes. In this case, testing in the lab is more convenient than in the open sea.
Scientists also noticed that 10,000 larvae were able to successfully settle on the sea floor. These larvae were being monitored for a long time.
Scientists are studying whether they can adapt to the ocean’s atmosphere and how they behave over time. The Australian Government is providing all types of research support. It is becoming possible to conduct this research at a much lower cost than expected.