Speckled sanddab

Jessica Andrade

Latin name: Citharichthys stigmaeus

Speckled sanddab are a flatfish species found in the nearshore waters along the west coast of the United States and Canada. Their abundance in these areas make juveniles and adults important prey species for marine mammals, seabirds, and other predators. However, global climate change is causing increases in the concentration of CO2 levels in many of these nearshore environments, having potential effects on the species located there. We examined the effects of elevated CO2 associated with ocean acidification on the tradeoffs between exhibiting antipredator and foraging behaviors in juvenile speckled sanddab.