Editing Clownfish (section)

==Conservation==
As of 2025, 25 of the 28 clownfish species along with the hybrid ''A. leucokranos'' are assessed by the [[IUCN Red List]] as [[Least-concern species|Least-concern]]. Additionally, ''A. latezonatus'' is listed as Data Deficient.<ref>{{cite website|url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=amphiprion&searchType=species|title=Search for "amphiprion"|accessdate=16 May 2025|website=IUCN Red List of Threatened Species}}</ref> Threats to clownfish populations in the wild include, [[Ocean heat content|ocean warming]] and [[Ocean acidification|acidification]], exploitation for the aquarium trade and human development along the coast;<ref name=Jones287>Jones, G. P.; Srinivasan, M.; Galbraith, G. F.; Berumen, M. L.; Planes, S. "Saving Nemo: Extinction Risk, Conservation Status, and Effective Management Strategies for Anemonefishes" in {{harvnb|Laudet|Ravasi|2023}} pp. 287–288</ref> the first two are linked to [[global warming]].<ref>Schunter, C.; Donelson, J. M.; Munday, P. L.; Ravasi, T. "Resilience and Adaptation to Local and Global Environmental Change" in {{harvnb|Laudet|Ravasi|2023}} pp. 253–254</ref> 
[[File:Pez payaso (Amphiprion bicinctus) en una anémona magnífica (Heteractis magnifica), mar Rojo, Egipto, 2023-04-18, DD 93.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Amphiprion bicinctus|A. bicinctus]]'' which is endemic to the [[Red Sea]]]]
A warmer  ocean could lead to a delay in the development and settling of larvae.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=McLeod|first1=I. M.|last2=Rummer|first2=J. L.|last3=Clark|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=G. P.|last5=McCormick|first5=M. I.|last6=Wenger|first6=A. S.|last7=Munday|first7=P. L.|year=2013|title=Climate change and the performance of larval coral reef fishes: the interaction between temperature and food availability|journal=Conservation Physiology|volume=1|issue=1|page=cot024|doi=10.1093/conphys/cot024}}</ref> increase their need to forage,<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Nowicki|first1=J. P.|last2=Miller|first2=G. M.|last3=Munday|first3=P. L.|year=2012|title=Interactive effects of elevated temperature and CO2 on foraging behavior of juvenile coral reef fish|journal=Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology|volume=412|pages=46–51|doi=10.1016/j.jembe.2011.10.020}}</ref> as well as a decreased reproduction.<ref name=Miller2015>{{cite journal|last1=Miller|first1=G. M.|last2=Kroon|first2=F. J.|last3=Metcalfe|first3=S|last4=Mundayi|first4=P. L.|year=2015|title=Temperature is the evil twin: effects of increased temperature and ocean acidification on reproduction in a reef fish|journal=Ecological Applications|volume=25|issue=3|pages=603–620|doi=10.1890/14-0559.1}}</ref> Conversely, a 2015 study suggested that warmer water can increase [[aerobic exercise]] in ''A. biaculeatus'' juveniles.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Donelson|first=J. M.|year=2015|title=Development in a warm future ocean may enhance performance in some species|journal=Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology|volume=472|pages=119–125|doi=10.1016/j.jembe.2015.07.008}}</ref> Warming also causes the bleaching of their anemone hosts (similar to [[coral bleaching]]); a 2008 study concluded that anemone bleaching has led to lower numbers of clownfish in [[Great Keppel Island]], off [[Queensland]], Australia.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Jones|first1=A. M.|last2=Gardner|first2=S|last3=Sinclair|first3=W|year=2008|title=Losing ‘Nemo’: bleaching and collection appear to reduce inshore populations of anemonefishes|journal=Journal of Fish Biology|volume=73|issue=3|pages=753–761|doi=10.1111/j.1095-8649.2008.01969.x}}</ref> Another study found that clownfish can actually help their hosts better recover from bleaching.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Pryor|first1=S. H.|last2=Hill|first2=R|last3=Dixson|first3=D. L.|last4=Fraser|first4=N. J.|last5=Kelaher|first5=B. P.|last6=Scott|first6=A|year=2020|title=Anemonefish facilitate bleaching recovery in a host sea anemone|journal=Scientific Reports|volume=10|page=18586|doi=10.1038/s41598-020-75585-6}}</ref> There is evidence that ocean acidification negatively impacts clownfish larvae's sense of smell and hearing, which consequently reduces their ability to find reefs and anemones and increases predation risk.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Munday|first1=P. L.|last2=Dixon|first2=D. L.|last3=Donelson|first3=J. M.|last4=Jones|first4=G. P.|last5=Pratchett|first5=M. S.|last6=Devitsina|first6=G. V.|last7=Døving|first7=K. B.|year=2009|title=Ocean acidification impairs olfactory discrimination and homing ability of a marine fish|journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Science|volume=106|issue=6|pages=1848–1852|doi=10.1073/pnas.0809996106}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Simpsons|first1=S. D.|last2=Munday|first2=P. L.|last3=Wittenrich|first3=M. L.|last4=Manassa|first4=R|last5=Dixson|first5=D. L.|last6=Gagliano|first6=M|last7=Yan|first7=H. Y.|year=2011|title=Ocean acidification erodes crucial auditory behaviour in a marine fish|journal=Biology Letters|volume=7|issue=6|page=917–920|doi=10.1098/rsbl.2011.0293}}</ref><ref name=Jones287/> Conversely, a 2013 study found that higher levels of [[carbon dioxide]] in the waters increased [[fecundity]] in adults, but also led to smaller yolks for larvae.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Miller|first1=G. M.|last2=Watson|first2=S-A|last3=McCormick|first3=M. I.|last4=Munday|first4=P. L.|year=2013|title=Increased CO2 stimulates reproduction in a coral reef fish|journal=Global Change Biology|volume=19|issue=10|pages=3037–3045|doi=10.1111/gcb.12259}}</ref> In addition, acidification can negatively affect the quality of larvae when combined with warmer temperatures.<ref name=Miller2015/>

Wild clownfish are commonly collected to supply the aquarium trade. Factors that contribute to this include their popularity, market value, and ease of capture, particularly due to their shallow water habitat.<ref name=Jones287/> A 2005 study of an area in the Philippines found that clownfish and anemones were suspect to overfishing, being 60 percent of total catch; clownfish in particular decreased in population density by 80 percent.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Shuman|first1=C. S.|last2=Hodgson|first2=G|last3=Ambrose|first3=R. F.|year=2005|title=Population impacts of collecting sea anemones and anemonefish for the marine aquarium trade in the Philippines|journal=Coral Reefs|volume=24|pages=564–573|doi=10.1007/s00338-005-0027-z}}</ref> A 2014 study also concluded that exploitation has led to a decrease in ''O. ocellaris'' and associated anemones around the [[Spermonde Archipelago]], Indonesia.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Madduppa|first1=H. H.|last2=von Juterzenka|first2=K|last3=Syakir|first3=M|last4=Kochzius|first4=M|year=2014|title=Socio-economy of marine ornamental fishery and its impact on the population structure of the clown anemonefish Amphiprion ocellaris and its host anemones in Spermonde Archipelago, Indonesia|journal=Ocean & Coastal Management|volume=100|issue=2|pages=41–50|doi=10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2014.07.013}}</ref> Frisch and colleagues (2019) found that during a pause on collecting in [[Keppel Bay Islands National Park|Keppel Islands]], Australia, the recovery rate for clownfish species was relatively slow over a ten year period.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Frisch|first1=A. J.|last2=Hobbs|first2=J-P. A.|last3=Hansen|first3=S. T.|last4=Williamson|first4=D. H.|last5=Bonin|first5=M. C.|last6=Jones|first6=G. P.|last7=Rizzari|first7=J. R.|year=2019|title=Recovery potential of mutualistic anemone and anemonefish populations|journal=Fisheries Research|volume=218|pages=1–9|doi=10.1016/j.fishres.2019.04.018}}</ref> Urban development along the coast can effect clownfish habitat via increased sedimentation, algae growth and [[dredging]].<ref name=Jones287/> Sedimentation in particular appears have negative effects on larval development,<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Wenger|first1=A. S.|last2=McCormick|first2=M. I.|last3=Endo|first3=G. G. K.|last4=McLeod|first4=I. M.|last5=Kroon|first5=F|last6=Jones|first6=G. P.|year=2014|title=Suspended sediment alters larval development in a coral reef fish|journal=Journal of Experimental Biology|volume=217|issue=7|pages=1122–1128|doi=10.1242/jeb.094409}}</ref> gill function<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Hess|first1=S|last2=Wenger|first2=A. S.|last3=Ainsworth|first3=T. D.|last4=Rummer|first4=J. L.|year=2015|title=Exposure of clownfish larvae to suspended sediment levels found on the Great Barrier Reef: Impacts on gill structure and microbiome|journal=Scientific Reports|volume=5|page=10561|doi=10.1038/srep10561}}</ref> and anti-predator behaviour.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Hess|first1=S|last2=Allan|first2=B. J. M.|last3=Hoey|first3=A. S.|last4=Jarrold|first4=M. D.|last5=Wenger|first5=A. S.|last6=Runner|first6=J. L.|year=2019|title=Enhanced fast-start performance and anti-predator behaviour in a coral reef fish in response to suspended sediment exposure alters larval development in a coral reef fish|journal=Coral Reefs|volume=38|issue=1|pages=103–108|doi=10.1007/s00338-018-01757-6}}</ref> Declines in the numbers of certain clownfish species and their anemones hosts have been linked to coastal development in certain areas.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Hayashi|first1=K|last2=Tachihara|first2=K|last3=Reimer|first3=J. D.|year=2019|title= Loss of natural coastline influences species diversity of anemonefish and host anemones in the Ryuku Archipelago|journal=Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems|volume=31|issue=1|pages=15–27|doi=10.1002/aqc.3435}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Howell|first1=J|last2=Goulet|first2=T. L.|last3=Goulet|first3=D|year=2016|title= Anemonefish musical chairs and the plight of the two-band anemonefish, ''Amphiprion bicinctus''|journal=Environmental Biology of Fishes|volume=99|pages=873–886|doi=10.1007/s10641-016-0530-9}}</ref>

The establishment of [[marine protected area]]s has benefited clownfish due to prohibition on collecting, as they appear to be more numerous in these areas.<ref name=Jones291>Jones, G. P.; Srinivasan, M.; Galbraith, G. F.; Berumen, M. L.; Planes, S. "Saving Nemo: Extinction Risk, Conservation Status, and Effective Management Strategies for Anemonefishes" in {{harvnb|Laudet|Ravasi|2023}} pp. 291–293</ref> There are particularly important for protecting biodiversity hotspots where multiple clownfish species live, such as [[Solitary Islands Marine Park]], Australia.<ref name=Jones291/><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Scott|first1=A|last2=Malcolm|first2=H. A.|last3=Damiano|first3=C|last4=Richardson|first4=D. L.|year=2011|title=Long-term increases in abundance of anemonefish and their host sea anemones in an Australian marine protected area|journal=Marine and Freshwater Research|volume=62|issue=2|pages=187–196|doi=10.1071/MF10323}}</ref> Marine parks are important for protecting endemic species, but do not appear to increase the recovery of species that have had wide-ranging declines.<ref name=Jones291/>