It's not the heat, it's the carbon dioxide

Credit: Adam Hardy/Dan Ly/YouTube

Jumping allows the conch snail to escape from the predatory cone snail. Previous experiments had shown that rising temperature had left the conch's predator avoiding ability unimpaired.

No such luck with rising carbon dioxide levels:

http://www.coralcoe.org.au/news/jumping-snails-left-grounded-in-future-oceans / sea snails mollusk mollusc Mollusca leap escape predator predators jump jumping ability rising human carbon dioxide emissions team international scientists discover discovery discovered research lead author study published today Dr Sue-Ann Watson ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies Coral CoE James Cook University observed observe observation conch snail strong foot leap away approaching predators predator predate stop stops jumping takes longer to jump when exposed levels carbon dioxide projected end this century Dr Watson explains increased carbon dioxide ocean acidification levels disrupt particular neurotransmitter receptor snail’s nervous system delaying vital decision making decision-making escape snail more vulnerable poisonous dart slow moving slow-moving nemesis marbled cone shell effects quite profound altered behaviours behaviour behaviors behavior between predators predator prey potential disrupt ocean food webs web study shows show disrupted decision making decision-making elevated carbon dioxide levels level occur marine invertebrate invertebrates scientists observe observed similar effects before fish co author co-author Professor Göran Nilsson University of Oslo neurotransmitter receptor common many animals evolved quite early animal kingdom study suggests suggest human carbon dioxide emissions directly alter behaviour many marine animals including seafood part human diet Professor Philip Munday Coral CoE past studies effects ocean acidification animals mostly focused happen shell shells marine snails calcifying animals shell shells built more acidic environment study shows dual threat both weaker shells impaired behaviour Professor Munday critical study understand extent behavioural disturbances disturbance question sea creatures adapt fast enough rapid pace rising carbon dioxide levels ocean acidification /