News Climate

Rising CO2 in lakes could keep water fleas from raising their spiky defenses

The greenhouse gas could alter the delicate balance of many lake food webs

daphnia

SPIKES OUT  Tiny lake dwellers known as water fleas (Daphnia pulex shown) raise spiky defenses when sensing predators nearby. But high levels of carbon dioxide in lake waters may dull their senses, leaving the critters open to attack.  

Paul Hebert (CC BY 2.5)

By Carolyn Gramling

- More than 2 years ago

Rising carbon dioxide levels could leave some tiny lake dwellers defenseless.