Figure 3. Conceptual diagram showing the individual and interactive effects of elevated temperature and CO₂ on the physiology (development rate, food consumption rate, and growth rate) and behaviour (hunting for prey through olfaction) of sharks, based on the results of our long-term laboratory and mesocosm experiments.

Arrows within circles show whether the respective factors increase, decrease, or remain the same. Left-hand panel shows results that support the current predicted increase in energetic demands by predators leading to a potential increase of top-down control on food-webs. Right-hand panel shows our suggested paradigm shift linked to a negative effect of CO₂ on olfaction-driven predation. CO₂ leads to a reduced effectiveness in finding prey, leading to reduced growth, and therefore negates the predicted increase in top-down control based on elevated temperature alone. Artwork by T. Rossi.