The Last Stop: When There’s Nowhere Colder to Go

Fish have been migrating to cooler water over the last several decades as the ocean warms. But in Antarctica, the coldest place on the planet, polar species have nowhere to go.

See a longer version of this story, with additional photos and video, on the UC Davis Science & Climate website.

Marine life in Antarctica is especially vulnerable to climate change, which is warming oceans throughout the world. Anne Todgham, an animal scientist at the University of California, Davis, is studying how — and whether — polar fish will adapt to the changing conditions.

Preliminary results indicate that the polar fish have been able to acclimate to warm water or to higher levels of carbon dioxide, but not both together.

“They have evolved to live in very cold, stable conditions and they already live in the coldest, most stable ecosystem on Earth,” said Todgham, an associate professor in the UC Davis Department of Animal Science who specializes in how aquatic life copes with changing environments.

The research sheds light on the possible fate of many sea creatures, including ones we depend on for food.

Consider the Animal Science Major

Interested in a career studying topics like this? The animal science major at UC Davis is great for professional careers in research, veterinary medicine, human medicine, animal care and the food industry. Students receive a broad education about livestock, working animals, pets and fish, while also studying the core sciences. Read more on our majors blog.

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