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More carbon dioxide emissions¹ lead to more CO2 dissolving in the oceans, which turns the water acidic. Those sour seas slow the growth of corals. And it turns out acidic seawater also makes clownfish and damselfish suicidally bold and reckless, according to a study in the Proceedings² of the National Academy of Sciences.

Researchers used IPCC estimates of future CO2 emissions to mix up seawater with varying degrees of acidity³, similar to what we might see in 50 to 100 years. Fish larvae⁴ raised on the most acidic batch⁵ of seawater instinctively⁶ avoided predators⁸ at first, but soon were actually attracted to the predator⁷'s scent—probably due to some impairment of the olfactory⁹ system.

When those same fish were placed in experimental reefs near the Great Barrier Reef, they disregarded safety, straying from the protective coral. And cruising predators snatched up nearly all of them within 30 hours. Over the same period, only 10 percent of the fish raised in seawater of today’s acidity were eaten.

A disruption as big as climate change is bound to challenge numerous species. This study suggests that some challenges will be as unexpected as a cunning predator.

Thanks for the minute for Scientific American’s 60-Second Science. I’m Christopher Intagliata

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1 emissions
排放物( emission的名词复数 )；散发物（尤指气体）
参考例句：
Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。 Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

2 proceedings
n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报
参考例句：
He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。 to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

3 acidity
n.酸度，酸性
参考例句：
This plant prefers alkaline soil,though it will readily tolerate some acidity.这种植物在酸性土壤中也能生存，但硷性土壤更加适宜。 Gastric acidity would not prevent the organism from passing into the gut.胃的酸度不能防止细菌进入肠道。

4 larvae
n.幼虫
参考例句：
Larvae are parasitic on sheep.幼虫寄生在绵羊的身上。 The larvae prey upon small aphids.这种幼虫以小蚜虫为食。

5 batch
n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量
参考例句：
The first batch of cakes was burnt.第一炉蛋糕烤焦了。 I have a batch of letters to answer.我有一批信要回复。

6 instinctively
adv.本能地
参考例句：
As he leaned towards her she instinctively recoiled. 他向她靠近，她本能地往后缩。来自《简明英汉词典》 He knew instinctively where he would find her. 他本能地知道在哪儿能找到她。来自《简明英汉词典》

7 predator
n.捕食其它动物的动物；捕食者
参考例句：
The final part of this chapter was devoted to a brief summary of predator species.本章最后部分简要总结了食肉动物。 Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard and a fearsome predator.科摩多龙是目前存在的最大蜥蜴，它是一种令人恐惧的捕食性动物。

8 predators
n.食肉动物( predator的名词复数 )；奴役他人者（尤指在财务或性关系方面）
参考例句：
birds and their earthbound predators 鸟和地面上捕食它们的动物 The eyes of predators are highly sensitive to the slightest movement. 捕食性动物的眼睛能感觉到最细小的动静。来自《简明英汉词典》

9 olfactory
adj.嗅觉的
参考例句：
He is to develop a sensor to substitute for the olfactory abilities of dogs.克罗克将研制一种传感器用以代替狗的嗅觉功能。 Based on these findings, Keller suspects that each person has an olfactory blind spot.根据这些发现，凯勒推断，每个人都有一个嗅觉盲区。