Global General

Finding Nemo becomes even harder due to climate change

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-12-14 22:33

COPENHAGEN: Nemo the clownfish is more lost than ever, thanks to climate change.

Ocean acidification caused by global warming is destroying the sense of smell and navigational abilities of the little orange clownfish of Finding Nemo fame, pushing the species closer to extinction, a new report has found.

The report, launched on Monday by the International Union for Conservation of Nature on the sidelines of global climate talks in Copenhagen, named 10 species that will be hardest hit by global warming.

Among the 10 was the clownfish, which uses its sense of smell to find its way to its host anemone.

"Ocean acidification and rising temperatures are of course destroying the coral reefs but, on top of that, they are affecting their olfactory senses," the report's co-author, Wendy Foden told reporters.

"They are literally unable to find their way home."

The 10 species named in the report were: beluga whale, clownfish, leatherback turtle, emperor penguin, quiver tree, ringed seal, salmon, staghorn coral, arctic fox and koala.

Higher temperatures cause more of the eggs laid by giant leatherback turtles to develop as females, Foden said.

"It's leading to extremely skewed sex ratios developing," she said.

Koalas are finding it harder than ever to get enough to eat because warmer conditions have made their staple, eucalyptus leaves, less nutritious, she said.

"Species can adapt but the conditions need to change sufficiently slowly," said Foden. "If our governments commit to strong and timely targets, if this meeting is successful here, we can slow the pace of climate change and give these species a chance to survive."