If you could donate money to save the brightly colored orange clownfish or a simple red snapper, which fish would you choose? That question was asked to 13,000 people based on 481 photos of fish. The answer should come as no surprise: the most colorful and rounder fish – such as the clownfish – received the most sympathy. The grayish and elongated fish were more often referred to as ugly.
And that has important consequences. For example, the more beautiful fish are less often on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). In short, beautiful fish are in danger of extinction to a lesser extent. “There is a clear mismatch between potential public support for the conservation of certain species of fish and the need for support for certain species,” said ecologist and researcher Nicolas Mouquet (University of Montpellier). For example, ugly fish end up on our plates more often and are therefore vulnerable to overfishing.
With the help of his research, Mouquet wants to make other scientists aware of the process that goes on behind the scenes. “Further research could help scientists anticipate even better,” Mouquet said.