Marine Science Program, Department of Environment and Conservation, Kensington, WA, Australia, 2UMR 5244 CNRS-EPHEUPVD, 3 Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, Australia, de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Marseille, France, Australia, School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 4ARC Centre of Excellence for 5King Abdullah University of Science and Technology,6Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA, 7Department of Environmental Sciences,8Agrocampus Ouest, Laboratory of Computer Science, Rennes, France, 9Institut10Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland,11Australian Institute of Marine Science, c/– The Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley WA, Australia,12 
Evolutionary Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley WA, Australia, United Nations University, International Network on Water, Environment and Health, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 13Centre of14Marine Lab, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam,15 Biosciences, University of Exeter, UK, CA, USA, et Observatoire de l’Environnement, Moorea, French Polynesia, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, Santa Barbara, CA, USA, 16Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of 17Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara,18Centre d’Océanologie de Marseille, Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France, 19Centre de Recherches Insulaires 20Marine Programs, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, USA,21 and Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Sweden, 22National Coral Reef Institute, Nova Southeastern University, Florida, USA23Department of Ecosystem Studies, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan  *Author for correspondence (shaun.wilson@dec.wa.gov.au) 
Accepted 3 November 2009   Summary 
Expert opinion was canvassed to identify crucial knowledge gaps in current understanding of climate change impacts on coral 
reef fishes. Scientists that had published three or more papers on the effects of climate and environmental factors on reef fishes 
were invited to submit five questions that, if addressed, would improve our understanding of climate change effects on coral reef 
fishes. Thirty-three scientists provided 155 questions, and 32 scientists scored these questions in terms of: (i) identifying a 
knowledge gap, (ii) achievability, (iii) applicability to a broad spectrum of species and reef habitats, and (iv) priority. Forty-two per 
cent of the questions related to habitat associations and community dynamics of fish, reflecting the established effects and 
immediate concern relating to climate-induced coral loss and habitat degradation. However, there were also questions on fish 
demographics, physiology, behaviour and management, all of which could be potentially affected by climate change. Irrespective 
of their individual expertise and background, scientists scored questions from different topics similarly, suggesting limited bias 
and recognition of a need for greater interdisciplinary and collaborative research. Presented here are the 53 highest-scoring 
unique questions. These questions should act as a guide for future research, providing a basis for better assessment and 
management of climate change impacts on coral reefs and associated fish communities.