Temperature constrains locomotion and muscle function in two temperate labrids

Impacts of thermal acclimatization on fish skeletal muscle

Thermal acclimation allows ectotherms to maintain physiological homeostasis while occupying habitats with constantly changing temperatures. This process is especially important in skeletal muscle which powers most movements necessary for life. We aimed to understand how fish skeletal muscle is impacted by acclimatization in the laboratory. To accomplish this, we compared muscle contraction kinetics of four-week lab acclimatized fish (at 20 °C) to fish taken directly from the field when sea surface temperatures were similar to lab treatment temperature (ocean temperature ranged from 17.7 to 19.9 °C in the four weeks prior to collection at 20 °C). To examine these effects, we chose to study tautog (Tautoga onitis) and cunner (Tautogolabrus adspersus) from Long Island Sound. We found that timing of contraction kinetics in cunner and tautog did not differ from the lab acclimatized and field acclimatized groups. However, lab acclimatized cunner produced greater contraction force than fish taken directly from the field. This increased force production allowed lab acclimatized cunner to produce greater power when compared to cunner from the field treatment. Furthermore, laboratory acclimatized cunner did not express any slow myosin heavy chain, suggesting that their muscle had transitioned to mostly fast twitch fibers after being held at a constant temperature in the lab. None of these effects were seen in tautog. In this work we highlight the importance of considering the impacts laboratory conditions have on experimental conditions.

Thermal acclimation leads to variable muscle responses in two temperate labrid fishes

Temperature can be a key abiotic factor in fish distribution, as it affects most physiological processes. Specifically, temperature can affect locomotor capabilities, especially as species are exposed to temperatures nearing their thermal limits. In this study, we aimed to understand the effects of temperature on muscle in two labrids that occupy the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. When exposed to cold temperatures in autumn, cunner (Tautogolabrus adspersus) and tautog (Tautoga onitis) go into a state of winter dormancy. Transitions into dormancy vary slightly, where tautog will make short migrations to overwintering habitats while cunner overwinter in year-round habitats. To understand how muscle function changes with temperature, we held fish for 4 weeks at either 5 or 20°C and then ran muscle kinetic and workloop experiments at 5, 10 and 20°C. Following experiments, we used immunohistochemistry staining to identify acclimation effects on myosin isoform expression. Muscle taken from warm-acclimated cunner performed the best, whereas there were relatively few differences among the other three groups. Cunner acclimated at both temperatures downregulated the myosin heavy chain, suggesting a transition in fiber type from slow-oxidative to fast-glycolytic. This change did not amount to a detectable difference in muscle power production and kinetics. However, overall poor performance at cold temperatures could force these fishes into torpor to overwinter. Tautog, alternatively, retained myosin heavy chains, which likely increases locomotor capabilities when making short migrations to overwintering habitats.

Effects of overwintering temperatures on the escape response in cunner (Tautogolabrus adspersus)

Cunner (Tautogolabrus adspersus) are a temperate labrid species that inhabit the Western Atlantic and experience temperatures ranging from 0°C to 25°C. During autumn, once temperatures drop below 10°C in Long Island Sound, cunner find shelter and enter a state of quiescence. Previous work has shown that acclimation to low temperatures limits the performance of locomotor musculature, which significantly lowers steady swimming capabilities. We aimed to understand how the escape response (C-start) might be impacted by temperatures experienced by cunner in Long Island Sound over the course of a year. Escape responses were recorded at 250 frames/s at 20°C, 15°C, 10°C, and 5°C. Average peak velocities and accelerations were faster in fish acclimated to 20°C than to 5°C and 10°C. Despite taking a similar turn angle to 10°C and 15°C fish, the 5°C treatment group took longer to complete the C-start, which might make them more susceptible to predation at this temperature. Based on these results it appears that the escape response is reduced at cold temperatures. Previous research has shown that locomotor musculature performance is significantly reduced at cold temperatures, which could explain the results seen here. The decrease in escape performance at cold temperatures could explain their state of extended torpor as the slowed C-start at these cold temperatures might make them more susceptible to predation.