Ocean warming is a primary symptom of climate change and is projected to have substantial impacts on marine ecosystems. Previous studies have shown that warming ocean temperatures will lead to an increase in metabolic rates for aquatic ectotherms, but temperate species have the ability to acclimatize and extend their thermal range by adjustments of functional capacities. Gobiusculus flavescens was used to examine the effects of ocean warming by measuring the metabolic rates with a circular respirometry chamber and growth by monthly monitoring and measurements. This is a widely distributed lower trophic level coastal fish that is an excellent model species for physiological research. G.flavescens juveniles were exposed to either ambient or +3°C temperature increase for five months. Results show that there was not a significant difference between the ambient temperature group and +3°C temperature group, contrary to other literature and our hypotheses.
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