AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC SCALING IN FISH

Effect of thermo-velocity barriers on fish: influence of water temperature, flow velocity and body size on the volitional swimming capacity of northern straight-mouth nase (Pseudochondrostoma duriense)

Water temperature and flow velocity directly affect the fish swimming capacity, and thus, both variables influence the fish passage through river barriers. Nonetheless, their effects are usually disregarded in fishway engineering and management. This study aims to evaluate the volitional swimming capacity of the northern straight-mouth nase (Pseudochondrostoma duriense), considering the possible effects of water temperature, flow velocity and body size. For this, the maximum distance, swim speed and fatigue time (FT) were studied in an outdoor open-channel flume in the Duero River (Burgos, Spain) against three nominal velocities (1.5, 2.5 and 3 m s-1 ) and temperatures (5.5, 13.5 and 18.5°C), also including the changes between swimming modes (prolonged and sprint). Results showed that a nase of 20.8 cm mean fork length can develop a median swim speed that exceeds 20.7 BL s-1 (4.31 m s-1 ) during a median time of 3.4 s in sprint mode, or 12.2 BL s-1 (2.55 m s-1 ) for 23.7 s in prolonged mode under the warmest scenario. During prolonged swimming mode, fish were able to reach further distances in warmer water conditions for all situations, due to a greater swimming speed and FT, whereas during sprint mode, warmer conditions increased the swim speed maintaining the FT. In conclusion, the studied temperature range and flow velocity range influence fish swimming performance, endurance and distance travelled, although with some differences depending on the swimming mode. The provided information goes a step forward in the definition of real fish swimming capacities, and in turn, will contribute to establish clear passage criteria for thermo-velocity barriers, allowing the calculation of the proportion of fish able to pass a barrier under different working scenarios, as well designing of the optimized solutions to improve the fish passage through river barriers.

The effects of size on exhaustive exercise and recovery in a marine sportfish, the red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)

Recreational angling is an economically important activity in many communities around the world. One conservation strategy adopted to offset the population-level consequences of recreational angling is "catch-and-release" (CAR), which is the act of returning fish to the environment following an angling event. While an expansive literature has helped to generalize CAR best practices, species-specific validation of recovery profiles remains a crucial component of species-specific angling guidance. This study sought to define the injury and recovery profiles in the plasma and white muscle following exhaustive exercise in two size classes of a common Gulf of Mexico sportfish, the red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus). The two sizes included a "small" (20-30 cm) and "slot" size (51-74 cm), the latter of which is a common angling target. Both size classes showed a characteristic injury profile that consisted of significantly elevated muscle and plasma lactate, plasma osmolality and haematocrit, as well as decreased muscle ATP and phosphocreatine, and lowered plasma and muscle pH. In small fish, muscle metabolites returned to control values by 1 h post-exercise and plasma metabolites returned to control between 3 and 6 h post-exercise. In contrast, slot sized fish had recovery periods of ≥3 h for all metabolites. The maximum injury effect size was also greater in the slot size class. These data suggest that while red drum conform to typical patterns of post-exercise recovery, larger trophy-sized fish may be more at risk to the ancillary effects of exhaustive exercise owing to greater exercise injury and slower recovery rates.

Swimming behaviour of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) in response to turbulent flow induced by a D-cylinder

Turbulence is a complex hydraulic phenomenon which commonly occurs in natural streams and fishways. Riverine fish are subjected to heterogeneous flow velocities and turbulence, which may affect their movements and ability to pass the fishways. However, studies focusing on fish response to turbulent flows are lacking for many species. Here we investigate the effects of the turbulence created by a vertical half-cylinder of various diameters (1.9, 2.5, 3.2 and 5.0 cm) on the swimming ability and behaviour of silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix. The large D-cylinders (3.0 and 5.0 cm) create specific vorticity and reduced velocities areas in their vicinity, which favours flow refuging behaviours (FRBs) and thus increased relative critical swimming speeds (U_rcrit , BL/s) of silver carp, by comparison to free-flow conditions and cylinders of smaller diameter (1.9 and 2.5 cm). The flow speed at which silver carp maximized FRBs such as Karman gaiting downstream of the cylinder, holding position in the bow wake or entraining on the side ranged from 40 to 70 cm s^-1 , depending on fish body size. When holding station near a cylinder under optimal flow speeds, the distance between the fish and the cylinder is related to the size of the fish, but also to the size of the cylinder and the produced vortices. The optimal holding region in the drag wake of the cylinder ranged from 28 to 40 cm downstream of the centre of the cylinder, depending on the size of the fish. Smaller fish, however, tend to use the reduced velocities areas located in the bow wake of the large cylinders. We hypothesize that fish will display FRBs, including maintaining a Karman gait in turbulent flow, when the ratio of the cylinder diameter to their body length is between 1:3 and 1:4. They also match their tail beat frequency to the vortex shedding frequency of the cylinder. Our results provide a better understanding of how silver carp respond to turbulent flows around physical structures, with implications for the design of nature-like fishways or exclusion devices in both its native and invasive ranges.

Impact of TDG supersaturation on native fish species under different hydropower flood discharge programs

Total dissolved gas (TDG) supersaturation caused by the operation of hydropower stations can threaten the survival and swimming performance of fish species. Different modes of hydropower flood discharges (regular vs. intermittent) from the Dagangshan hydropower station in China were studied in July and September 2017 to study the impact of TDG supersaturation on two native fish species in the downstream Dadu River. The average TDG supersaturation value was 114.3% in July under the regular discharge mode. In September, the supersaturation of TDG fluctuated in response to the intermittent discharge mode with an average TDG of 119.3%. Apparent gas bubble trauma was found on young-of-the-year (YOY) Prenant's schizothoracin and elongate loach in cages at different water depths during the flood discharge period. The mortality rate of YOY Prenant's schizothoracin and elongate loach in cages with water depths of 0-1 m were 16.25% and 2.5%, respectively, in July. The fluctuating TDG levels with higher peaks in September caused higher fish mortality rates. The final mortality rates of YOY Prenant's schizothoracin and elongate loach in cages with water depths of 0-1 m were 75% and 33.75%, respectively. Fish in the cages at a 0-3 m water depth survived better than those in the cages at a 0-1 m water depth. The critical swimming speeds (U_crit) of YOY Prenant's schizothoracin and elongate loach without exposure to TDG supersaturation were 11.64 and 16.76 BL s^-1, respectively. U_crit decreased significantly after experiencing the flood discharge period and recovered to the normal level after experiencing the corresponding interval period.

The synthesis of lipids and proteins in vitro in tissues of Cyprinus carpio infected with Bothriocephalus acheilognathi

The problem of the mechanisms of regulation of biochemical processes in carp Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus, 1758) tissues and organs caused by infection with Bothriocephalus (Schyzocotyle) acheilognathi (Yamaguti, 1934) at different intensities of invasion remains practically unstudied. The purpose of this study was to dedetrmine the intensity of lipid and protein synthesis in vitro when [6-14C]glucose and [2-14C]lysine are used as their precursor in the tissues of the intestine, hepatopancreas and skeletal muscles of carp. The study was conducted on this-year carp with body weight 14.5–20.5 g, at different invasion rates of the helminth B. acheilognathi, which belongs to the family Bothriocephalidae of the Pseudophyllidae order of the Cestoda class of the Plathelminthes phylum. The examined carp were divided into three groups: 1st group of fish was free from intestinal helminths of B. acheilognathi (control); 2nd group of fish was weakly infected with helminths (intensity of invasion was 1–3 helminths per fish); the 3rd group of fish was highly infected (the invasion intensity was 4 worms and more per fish). Our results showed that in fish infected with the helminth B. acheilognathi in comparison to uninfected, the intensity of lipid synthesis in the intestinal wall, hepatopancreas, skeletal muscle was much lower when [6-14C]glucose was used as a predecessor than when [2-14C]lysine was used as a predecessor. In the examined tissues, significant decrease was observed in the synthesis of reserve lipids (mono-, di- and triacylglycerols) in comparison to the structural (phospholipids and cholesterol), which depends on the intensity of the B. acheilognathi invasion. In the metabolic processes in the wall of the intestine, hepatopancreas, skeletal muscle of this-year carp infectd with B. acheilognathi helminths, under in vitro conditions, [6-14C]glucose was used more than [2-14C]lysine. The intensity of protein synthesis in the intestinal wall, hepatopancreas, skeletal muscles of this-year carp infected with the helminth B. acheilognathi under in vitro conditions increased when [6-14C]glucose was added to the incubation medium, on average 7.1–28.3% and decreased when [2-14C]lysine was added, on average 7.8–25.7%.

The effects of constant and fluctuating elevated pCO2 levels on oxygen uptake rates of coral reef fishes

Ocean acidification, resulting from increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, can affect the physiological performance of some fishes. Most studies investigating ocean acidification have used stable pCO₂ treatments based on open ocean predictions. However, nearshore systems can experience substantial spatial and temporal variations in pCO₂. Notably, coral reefs are known to experience diel fluctuations in pCO₂, which are expected to increase on average and in magnitude in the future. Though we know these variations exist, relatively few studies have included fluctuating treatments when examining the effects of ocean acidification conditions on coral reef species. To address this, we exposed two species of damselfishes, Amblyglyphidodon curacao and Acanthochromis polyacanthus, to ambient pCO_2, a stable elevated pCO₂ treatment, and two fluctuating pCO₂ treatments (increasing and decreasing) over an 8 h period. Oxygen uptake rates were measured both while fish were swimming and resting at low-speed. These 8 h periods were followed by an exhaustive swimming test (U_crit) and blood draw examining swimming metrics and haematological parameters contributing to oxygen transport. When A. polyacanthus were exposed to stable pCO₂ conditions (ambient or elevated), they required more energy during the 8 h trial regardless of swimming type than fish exposed to either of the fluctuating pCO₂ treatments (increasing or decreasing). These results were reflected in the oxygen uptake rates during the U_crit tests, where fish exposed to fluctuating pCO₂ treatments had a higher factorial aerobic scope than fish exposed to stable pCO₂ treatments. By contrast, A. curacao showed no effect of pCO₂ treatment on swimming or oxygen uptake metrics. Our results show that responses to stable versus fluctuating pCO₂ differ between species - what is stressful for one species many not be stressful for another. Such asymmetries may have population- and community-level impacts under higher more variable pCO₂ conditions in the future.

Mitigation of lampricide toxicity to juvenile lake sturgeon: the importance of water alkalinity and life stage

The pesticide, 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM), is used to control invasive sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) populations in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Applied to infested tributaries, it is most toxic to larval sea lamprey, which have a low capacity to detoxify TFM. However, TFM can be toxic to lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), whose populations are at risk throughout the basin. They are most vulnerable to TFM in early life stages, with the greatest risk of non-target mortality occurring in waters with high alkalinity. We quantified TFM toxicity and used radio-labelled TFM (¹⁴C-TFM) to measure TFM uptake rates in lake sturgeon in waters of different pH and alkalinity. Regardless of pH or alkalinity, TFM uptake was 2-3-fold higher in young-of-the-year (YOY) than in age 1-year-plus (1+) sturgeon, likely due to higher mass-specific metabolic rates in the smaller YOY fish. As expected, TFM uptake was highest at lower (pH 6.5) versus higher (pH 9.0) pH, indicating that it is taken up across the gills by diffusion in its unionized form. Uptake decreased as alkalinity increased from low (~50 mg L^-1 as CaCO₃) to moderate alkalinity (~150 mg L^-1 as CaCO₃), before plateauing at high alkalinity (~250 mg L^-1 as CaCO₃). Toxicity curves revealed that the 12-h LC₅₀ and 12-h LC_99.9 of TFM to lake sturgeon were in fact higher (less toxic) than in sea lamprey, regardless of alkalinity. However, in actual treatments, 1.3-1.5 times the minimum lethal TFM concentration (MLC = LC_99.9) to lamprey is applied to maximize mortality, disproportionately amplifying TFM toxicity to sturgeon at higher alkalinities. We conclude that limiting TFM treatments to late summer/early fall in waters of moderate-high alkalinity, when lake sturgeon are larger with lower rates of TFM uptake, would mitigate non-target TFM effects and help conserve populations of these ancient, culturally important fishes.

Muscle-specific gene expression and metabolic enzyme activities in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. fry reared under different photoperiod regimes

This study was conducted to characterise the muscle-specific gene expression, energy metabolism level and growth rates of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. reared under different photoperiod regimes. The effects of two photoperiod regimes - LD 16:8 (16 h light:8 h dark) and LD 24:0 (24 h light:0 h dark) over a period of 3 months (August to October) on growth, energy metabolism enzyme activities (cytochrome c oxidase, COX; lactate dehydrogenase, LDH; and aldolase) and the gene expression levels of myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs - MyoD1 paralogues (MyoD1a, MyoD1b, MyoD1c), Myf5, MyoG), myostatin paralogues (MSTN-1a, MSTN-1b, MSTN-2a) and the fast skeletal myosin heavy chain (MyHC) in the muscles of Atlantic salmon underyearling fry (0+) were investigated. The experiment was conducted in a fish hatchery with natural variations in water temperature. The results were compared with those obtained in salmon reared under the lighting conditions of a fish hatchery (HL, hatchery lighting). The results revealed that the fry reared under constant light (LD 24:0) grew faster and were bigger at the end of the experiment. Fishes reared within the photoperiod regime LD 16:8 had a lower growth rate. COX activity was lower in fish under the LD 16:8 regime compared with the LD 24:0 group. The LDH and aldolase enzyme activities were higher in the group with constant light in comparison to control in the beginning of September. The expression level for all of the genes studied variated during the duration of the experiment, and MyHC, MyoG, MyoD1a and Myf5 expression depended on the light regime as well. The more noticeable changes in gene expression occurred in October. The MyHC and MyoG mRNA levels increased, accompanied by MyD1c gene expression, in both groups that had additional lighting (LD 16:8 and LD24:0) at the beginning of October and were higher than the HL group. In the HL group, the elevation of MyHC and MyoG mRNA was gradual during October, but there was a sharp increase in Myf5 expression at the beginning of October. MyoD1 paralogues differently expressed during the experiment. The MyoD1a mRNA level was elevated at the end of October along with MyHC and MyoG expression, but MyoD1b and MyoD1c mRNA levels decreased along with Myf5 gene expression. The expression of MSTN paralogues were elevated with increases in MyHC and MRFs transcripts. These findings show that constant light has a positive effect on the growth rate of salmon, affecting the aerobic and anaerobic capacity in their muscles. The alterations in muscle-specific gene expression between the groups with different light indicated that the mechanisms for regulating muscle growth processes in fish depend on photoperiod duration.

Latent power of basking sharks revealed by exceptional breaching events

The fast swimming and associated breaching behaviour of endothermic mackerel sharks is well suited to the capture of agile prey. In contrast, the observed but rarely documented breaching capability of basking sharks is incongruous to their famously languid lifestyle as filter-feeding planktivores. Indeed, by analysing video footage and an animal-instrumented data logger, we found that basking sharks exhibit the same vertical velocity (approx. 5 m s-1) during breach events as the famously powerful predatory great white shark. We estimate that an 8-m, 2700-kg basking shark, recorded breaching at 5 m s-1 and accelerating at 0.4 m s-2, expended mechanical energy at a rate of 5.5 W kg-1; a mass-specific energetic cost comparable to that of the great white shark. The energy cost of such a breach is equivalent to around 1/17th of the daily standard metabolic cost for a basking shark, while the ratio is about half this for a great white shark. While breaches by basking sharks must serve a different function to white shark breaches, their similar breaching speeds questions our perception of the physiology of large filter-feeding fish.

Influence of body size, metabolic rate and life history stage on the uptake and excretion of the lampricide 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) by invasive sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus)

Invasive sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) are controlled in the Great Lakes using the lampricide 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM), which is applied to streams infested with larval lamprey. However, lamprey that survive treatments (residuals) remain a challenge because they may subsequently undergo metamorphosis into parasitic juvenile animals that migrate downstream to the Great Lakes, where they feed on important sport and commercial fishes. The goal of this study was to determine if body size and life stage could potentially influence sea lamprey tolerance to TFM by influencing patterns of TFM uptake and elimination. Because mass specific rates of oxygen consumption (M˙O₂) are lower in larger compared to smaller lamprey, we predicted that TFM uptake would be negatively correlated to body size, suggesting that large larvae would be more tolerant to TFM exposure. Accordingly, TFM uptake and M˙O₂ were measured in larvae ranging in size from 0.2-4.2g using radio-labelled TFM (¹⁴C-TFM) and static respirometry. Both were inversely proportional to wet mass (M), and could be described usingthe allometric power relationship: Y=aM^b, in which M˙O₂=1.86M^0.53 and TFM Uptake=7.24M^0.34. We also predicted that body size would extend to rates of TFM elimination, which was measured following the administration of ¹⁴C-TFM (via intraperitoneal injection). However, there were no differences in the half-lives of elimination of TFM (T _1/2-TFM). There were also no differences in M˙O₂ or TFM uptake amongst size-matched larval, metamorphosing (stages 6-7), or post-metamorphic (juvenile) sea lamprey. However, the T_1/2-TFM was significantly lower in larval than post-metamorphic lamprey (juvenile), indicating the larval lamprey cleared TFM more efficiently than juvenile lamprey. We conclude that larger larval sea lamprey are more likely to survive TFM treatments suggesting that body size might be an important variable to consider when treating streams with TFM to control these invasive species.

Hypoxia and Sprint Swimming Performance of Juvenile Striped Bass, Morone saxatilis

Annual hypoxia in the Chesapeake Bay has expanded to the point where Darwinian fitness of juvenile striped bass (Morone saxatilis) may depend on their ability to perform in low-oxygen environments. The locomotion they use in predator/prey dynamics relies primarily on white (type II) muscle that is powered by anaerobic metabolic pathways and has generally been thought to be immune to aquatic hypoxia. We tested the sprint performance of 15 juvenile striped bass twice under acute hypoxia (20% air saturation [AS]) 5 wk apart and once under normoxia (>85% AS) in between. Average sprint performance was lower under the first hypoxia exposure than in normoxia and increased in the second hypoxia test relative to the first. The rank order of individual sprint performance was significantly repeatable when comparing the two hypoxia tests but not when compared with sprint performance measured under normoxic conditions. The maximum sprint performance of each individual was also significantly repeatable within a given day. Thus, sprint performance of striped bass is reduced under hypoxia, is phenotypically plastic, and improves with repetitive hypoxia exposures but is unrelated to relative sprint performance under normoxia. Since energy to fuel a sprint comes from existing ATP and creatine phosphate stores, the decline in sprint performance probably reflects reduced function of a part of the reflex chain leading from detection of aversive stimuli to activation of the muscle used to power the escape response.

Evaluation of swimming performance for fish passage of longnose dace Rhinichthys cataractae using an experimental flume

The swimming performance of longnose dace Rhinichthys cataractae, the most widely distributed minnow (Cyprinidae) in North America, was assessed in relation to potential passage barriers. The study estimated passage success, maximum ascent distances and maximum sprint speed in an open-channel flume over a range of water velocities and temperatures (10·7, 15·3 and 19·3° C). Rhinichthys cataractae had high passage success (95%) in a 9·2 m flume section at mean test velocities of 39 and 64 cm s^-1 , but success rate dropped to 66% at 78 cm s^-1 . Only 20% of fish were able to ascend a 2·7 m section with a mean velocity of 122 cm s^-1 . Rhinichthys cataractae actively selected low-velocity pathways located along the bottom and corners of the flume at all test velocities and adopted position-holding behaviour at higher water velocities. Mean volitional sprint speed was 174 cm s^-1 when fish volitionally sprinted in areas of high water velocities. Swimming performance generally increased with water temperature and fish length. Based on these results, fishways with mean velocities <64 cm s^-1 should allow passage of most R. cataractae. Water velocities >100 cm s^-1 within structures should be limited to short distance (<1 m) and structures with velocities ≥158 cm s^-1 would probably represent movement barriers. Study results highlighted the advantages of evaluating a multitude of swimming performance metrics in an open-channel flume, which can simulate the hydraulic features of fishways and allow for behavioural observations that can facilitate the design of effective passage structures.

Partitioning the metabolic scope: the importance of anaerobic metabolism and implications for the oxygen- and capacity-limited thermal tolerance (OCLTT) hypothesis

Ongoing climate change is predicted to affect the distribution and abundance of aquatic ectotherms owing to increasing constraints on organismal physiology, in particular involving the metabolic scope (MS) available for performance and fitness. The oxygen- and capacity-limited thermal tolerance (OCLTT) hypothesis prescribes MS as an overarching benchmark for fitness-related performance and assumes that any anaerobic contribution within the MS is insignificant. The MS is typically derived from respirometry by subtracting standard metabolic rate from the maximal metabolic rate; however, the methodology rarely accounts for anaerobic metabolism within the MS. Using gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) and Trinidadian guppy (Poecilia reticulata), this study tested for trade-offs (i) between aerobic and anaerobic components of locomotor performance; and (ii) between the corresponding components of the MS. Data collection involved measuring oxygen consumption rate at increasing swimming speeds, using the gait transition from steady to unsteady (burst-assisted) swimming to detect the onset of anaerobic metabolism. Results provided evidence of the locomotor performance trade-off, but only in S. aurata. In contrast, both species revealed significant negative correlations between aerobic and anaerobic components of the MS, indicating a trade-off where both components of the MS cannot be optimized simultaneously. Importantly, the fraction of the MS influenced by anaerobic metabolism was on average 24.3 and 26.1% in S. aurata and P. reticulata, respectively. These data highlight the importance of taking anaerobic metabolism into account when assessing effects of environmental variation on the MS, because the fraction where anaerobic metabolism occurs is a poor indicator of sustainable aerobic performance. Our results suggest that without accounting for anaerobic metabolism within the MS, studies involving the OCLTT hypothesis could overestimate the metabolic scope available for sustainable activities and the ability of individuals and species to cope with climate change.

Intraspecific mass scaling of metabolic rates in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)

We assessed the intraspecific mass scaling of standard metabolic rate (SMR), maximum metabolic rate (MMR), excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC), and erythrocyte size in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus), with body masses ranging from 4.0 to 459 g. SMR and MMR scaled with body mass with similar exponents, but neither exponent matched the expected value of 0.75 or 1, respectively. Erythrocyte size scaled with body mass with a very low exponent (0.090), suggests that while both cell number and cell size contribute to the increase in body mass, cell size plays a smaller role. The similar slopes of MMR and SMR in grass carp suggest a constant factorial aerobic scope (FAS) as the body grows. SMR was negatively correlated with FAS, indicating a tradeoff between SMR and FAS. Smaller fish recovered faster from the exhaustive exercises, and the scaling exponent of EPOC was 1.075, suggesting a nearly isometric increase in anaerobic capacity. Our results provide support for the cell size model and suggest that variations of erythrocyte size may partly contribute to the intraspecific scaling of SMR. The scaling exponent of MMR was 0.863, suggesting that the metabolism of non-athletic fish species is less reliant on muscular energy expenditure, even during strenuous exercise.

Species-specific effects of near-future CO(2) on the respiratory performance of two tropical prey fish and their predator

Ocean surface CO2 levels are increasing in line with rising atmospheric CO2 and could exceed 900μatm by year 2100, with extremes above 2000μatm in some coastal habitats. The imminent increase in ocean pCO2 is predicted to have negative consequences for marine fishes, including reduced aerobic performance, but variability among species could be expected. Understanding interspecific responses to ocean acidification is important for predicting the consequences of ocean acidification on communities and ecosystems. In the present study, the effects of exposure to near-future seawater CO2 (860μatm) on resting (M˙ O2rest) and maximum (M˙O2max) oxygen consumption rates were determined for three tropical coral reef fish species interlinked through predator-prey relationships: juvenile Pomacentrus moluccensis and Pomacentrus amboinensis, and one of their predators: adult Pseudochromis fuscus. Contrary to predictions, one of the prey species, P. amboinensis, displayed a 28-39% increase in M˙O2max after both an acute and four-day exposure to near-future CO2 seawater, while maintaining M˙O2rest. By contrast, the same treatment had no significant effects on M˙O2rest or M˙O2max of the other two species. However, acute exposure of P. amboinensis to 1400 and 2400μatm CO2 resulted in M˙O2max returning to control values. Overall, the findings suggest that: (1) the metabolic costs of living in a near-future CO2 seawater environment were insignificant for the species examined at rest; (2) the M˙O2max response of tropical reef species to near-future CO2 seawater can be dependent on the severity of external hypercapnia; and (3) near-future ocean pCO2 may not be detrimental to aerobic scope of all fish species and it may even augment aerobic scope of some species. The present results also highlight that close phylogenetic relatedness and living in the same environment, does not necessarily imply similar physiological responses to near-future CO2.

Effects of intraspecific variation in reproductive traits, pectoral fin use and burst swimming on metabolic rates and swimming performance in the Trinidadian guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

There is considerable intraspecific variation in metabolic rates and locomotor performance in aquatic ectothermic vertebrates; however, the mechanistic basis remains poorly understood. Using pregnant Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata), a live-bearing teleost, we examined the effects of reproductive traits, pectoral fin use and burst-assisted swimming on swimming metabolic rate, standard metabolic rate (O2std) and prolonged swimming performance (Ucrit). Reproductive traits included reproductive allocation and pregnancy stage, the former defined as the mass of the reproductive tissues divided by the total body mass. Results showed that the metabolic rate increased curvilinearly with swimming speed. The slope of the relationship was used as an index of swimming cost. There was no evidence that reproductive traits correlated with swimming cost, O2std or Ucrit. In contrast, data revealed strong effects of pectoral fin use on swimming cost and Ucrit. Poecilia reticulata employed body-caudal fin (BCF) swimming at all tested swimming speeds; however, fish with a high simultaneous use of the pectoral fins exhibited increased swimming cost and decreased Ucrit. These data indicated that combining BCF swimming and pectoral fin movement over a wide speed range, presumably to support swimming stability and control, is an inefficient swimming behaviour. Finally, transition to burst-assisted swimming was associated with an increase in aerobic metabolic rate. Our study highlights factors other than swimming speed that affect swimming cost and suggests that intraspecific diversity in biomechanical performance, such as pectoral fin use, is an important source of variation in both locomotor cost and maximal performance.

The effect of body size on post-exercise physiology in largemouth bass

Variation in individual size has important consequences for a number of characteristics of fish, which can impact fish populations. The impact of fish size on recovery following exercise, however, is poorly understood, with little information existing on the recovery of ionic/osmotic variables. The goal of this study was to quantify not only how allometry impacts the magnitude of physiological disturbance following burst exercise in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), but also how allometry impacts the time required for exercise-induced disturbances to return to baseline levels. To accomplish this goal, two size classes of largemouth bass (large = 772-1,441 g total weight, mean = 1,125 g; small = 93-238 g, mean = 148 g) were exercised for 60 s and allowed to recover for 0, 1, 2, or 4 h before being sampled for plasma and white muscle. Large largemouth bass exhibited elevated concentrations of plasma glucose and sodium relative to small fish following a common exercise challenge. Large fish required additional time to clear metabolic disturbances in plasma and failed to restore potassium to basal levels even following 4 h of recovery, indicating an improved ability of the smaller fish to recover from disturbances. Results are further discussed in the context of physiological ecology and fitness for largemouth bass.

Accelerometer tags: detecting and identifying activities in fish and the effect of sampling frequency

Monitoring and measuring the behaviour and movement of aquatic animals in the wild is typically challenging, though micro-accelerometer (archival or telemetry) tags now provide the means to remotely identify and quantify behavioural states and rates such as resting, swimming, and migrating, and to estimate activity and energy budgets. Most studies use low frequency (≤32 Hz) accelerometer sampling due to battery and data-archiving constraints. In this study we assessed the effect of sampling frequency (aliasing) on activity detection probability using the great sculpin (Myoxocephalus polyacanthoceaphalus) as a model species. Feeding strikes and escape responses (fast-start activities) and spontaneous movements among 7 different great sculpin were triggered, observed and recorded using a tri-axial accelerometer sampling at 100 Hz and video records. We demonstrate that multiple parameters in the time and probability domains can statistically differentiate between activities with high detection (90%) and identification (80%) probabilities. Detection probability for feeding and escape activities decreased by 50% when sampling at &lt;10 Hz. Our analyses illustrate additional problems associated with aliasing and how activity and energy-budget estimates can be compromised and misinterpreted. We recommend that high-frequency (&gt;30 Hz) accelerometer sampling be used in similar lab and field studies. If battery and (or) data storage is limited, we also recommend archiving the events via an on-board algorithm that determines the highest likelihood and subsequent archiving of the various event-classes of interest.

Feeding ecology of early marine phase Atlantic salmon Salmo salar post-smolts

Dietary analyses of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar post-smolt stomachs collected from 2001 to 2005 in Penobscot Bay, Maine, U.S.A., have yielded insights into the feeding ecology of early marine phase post-smolts from different rearing origins. Most stomachs contained only one or two prey types, suggesting active prey selection. Post-smolts that lived in the river longer (i.e. from naturally reared and parr-stocked origins) were smaller and consumed more fishes than invertebrates compared to larger post-smolts that emigrated immediately post-stocking (i.e. from smolt-stocked origins). Naturally reared S. salar consumed c. 84% fishes and 16% crustaceans and parr-stocked S. salar consumed 64% fishes and 34% crustaceans. Stocked smolts consumed 48% fishes and 40% crustaceans. Differences in the type and quantity of consumed prey may be indicative of behavioural differences among rearing origins that influence post-smolt survival.

In vitro aerobic and anaerobic muscle capacities in the European eel, Anguilla anguilla: effects of a swimming session

In order to have a general view of metabolic requirements during swimming, in vitro aerobic and anaerobic fluxes were measured in red and white muscles from silver eels and yellow eels which differ in activity levels and nutritional states. These measurements were performed in control eels and after a 4 day swimming session (70% U(crit) in yellow eels, 80% U(crit) in silver eels). A swimming session significantly increases U(crit) from 12% to 18%, depending on the stage, with a significantly higher in vitro energy cost during the yellow stage at the muscle level. In vitro, the swimming session brings about a gain in anaerobic capacities rather than in aerobic ones. Some in vivo hypotheses are proposed.

Counter-gradient variation in respiratory performance of coral reef fishes at elevated temperatures

The response of species to global warming depends on how different populations are affected by increasing temperature throughout the species' geographic range. Local adaptation to thermal gradients could cause populations in different parts of the range to respond differently. In aquatic systems, keeping pace with increased oxygen demand is the key parameter affecting species' response to higher temperatures. Therefore, respiratory performance is expected to vary between populations at different latitudes because they experience different thermal environments. We tested for geographical variation in respiratory performance of tropical marine fishes by comparing thermal effects on resting and maximum rates of oxygen uptake for six species of coral reef fish at two locations on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia. The two locations, Heron Island and Lizard Island, are separated by approximately 1200 km along a latitudinal gradient. We found strong counter-gradient variation in aerobic scope between locations in four species from two families (Pomacentridae and Apogonidae). High-latitude populations (Heron Island, southern GBR) performed significantly better than low-latitude populations (Lizard Island, northern GBR) at temperatures up to 5°C above average summer surface-water temperature. The other two species showed no difference in aerobic scope between locations. Latitudinal variation in aerobic scope was primarily driven by up to 80% higher maximum rates of oxygen uptake in the higher latitude populations. Our findings suggest that compensatory mechanisms in high-latitude populations enhance their performance at extreme temperatures, and consequently, that high-latitude populations of reef fishes will be less impacted by ocean warming than will low-latitude populations.

Impact of an acoustic stimulus on the motility and blood parameters of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) and gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.)

The physiological responses of fish to underwater noise are poorly understood and further information is needed to evaluate any possible negative effects of sound exposure. We exposed European sea bass and gilthead sea bream to a 0.1-1 kHz linear sweep (150 dB(rms) re 1 microPa). This band frequency is perceptible by many species of fish and is mainly produced by vessel traffic. We assessed the noise-induced motility reaction (analysing the movements) and the haematological responses (measuring blood glucose and lactate, and haematocrit levels). The noise exposure produced a significant increase in motility as well as an increase in lactate and haematocrit levels in sea bream and sea bass. A significant decrease of glucose was only observed in sea bream. A linear correlation between blood parameters and motility in fish exposed to the noise was observed. The acoustic stimulus produced intense muscle activity.

Adaptation versus allometry: population and body mass effects on hypoxic metabolism in Fundulus grandis

Hypoxia has significant effects on organisms, from metabolic reduction to death, and could be an important evolutionary force affecting the variation among populations within a species. To determine intraspecific variation in hypoxic metabolism and the effect of body mass, we examine rates of oxygen consumption (M(O2)) at seven oxygen concentrations among seven populations of Fundulus grandis that inhabit a mosaic of habitats with different frequencies and intensities of hypoxia. For M(O2), there is a significant interaction (P< 0.05) between body mass and oxygen concentrations: log(10) body mass: log(10) M(O2) slopes were steeper at intermediate oxygen partial pressures (Po(2)) than either normoxic or lowest Po(2) (ANCOVA, P<0.001). Additionally, the PO(2crit) (Po(2) where M(O2) can no longer be maintained) was a negative function of body mass (P < 0.04). At the lowest Po(2) (1.8 kPa), there was a significant difference in M(O2) among populations: one of the populations from environments more frequently stressed by hypoxia has greater M(O2) at the lowest oxygen concentrations. With few differences among populations, the most important effects were how body mass affected M(O2) at intermediate Po(2) and the negative relationship between body mass and PO(2crit). These findings suggest that an increase in body size is a useful strategy to minimize the effect of hypoxia.

Scaling of muscle metabolic enzymes: an historical perspective

In this paper, we take an historical approach to reviewing research into the patterns of metabolic enzymes in muscle in relation to body size, focusing on mitochondrial enzymes. One of the first studies on allometric scaling of muscle enzymes was published in an early issue of this journal (George and Talesara, 1961 Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 3: 267-273). These researchers studied a number of locally available birds and a bat, measuring the activity of the mitochondrial enzyme succinate dehydrogenase in relation to body mass and muscle structure. Though the phenomenon of allometric scaling of metabolism was well recognized even 50 years earlier, this study was one of the first to explore the enzymatic underpinnings of the metabolic patterns in different animals. In this review, we begin by considering the George and Talesara study in the context of this early era in metabolic biochemistry and comparative physiology. We review subsequent studies in the last 50 years that continued the comparative analysis of enzyme patterns in relation to body size in diverse experimental models. This body of work identified a recurrent (though not ubiquitous) reciprocal relationship between oxidative and glycolytic enzymes. In the last 10 years, studies have focused on identifying the molecular mechanisms that determine the muscle metabolic enzyme phenotype.

Allometric scaling in centrarchid fish: origins of intra- and inter-specific variation in oxidative and glycolytic enzyme levels in muscle

The influence of body size on metabolic rate, muscle enzyme activities and the underlying patterns of mRNA for these enzymes were explored in an effort to explain the genetic basis of allometric variation in metabolic enzymes. We studied two pairs of sister species of centrarchid fish: black bass (largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieui) and sunfish (pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus and bluegill Lepomis macrochirus). Our goal was to assess the regulatory basis of both intraspecific and interspecific variation relative to body size, as well as to gain insights into the evolutionary constraints within lineages. Whole animal routine metabolic rate showed scaling coefficients not significantly different from 1, ranging from (+0.87 to +0.96). However, there were significant effects of body size on the specific activities of oxidative and glycolytic enzymes. Mass-specific activity of the oxidative enzyme citrate synthase (CS) scaled negatively with body size in each species, with scaling coefficients ranging from -0.15 to -0.19, whereas the glycolytic enzyme pyruvate kinase (PK) showed positive scaling, with scaling coefficients ranging from +0.08 to +0.23. The ratio of mass-specific enzyme activity in PK to CS increased with body size, whereas the ratio of mRNA transcripts of PK to CS was unaffected, suggesting the enzyme relationships were not due simply to transcriptional regulation of both genes. The mass-dependent differences in PK activities were best explained by transcriptional regulation of the muscle PK gene; PK mRNA was a good predictor of PK specific enzyme activity within species and between species. Conversely, CS mRNA did not correlate with CS specific enzyme activities, suggesting post-transcriptional mechanisms may explain the observed inter-specific and intraspecific differences in oxidative enzymes.

Ontogenetic scaling of fish metabolism in the mouse-to-elephant mass magnitude range

Intraspecific or ontogenetic analyses of mass-metabolism relationships do not often conform to the same allometric correlations as those seen in interspecific analyses. A commonly cited reason for this discrepancy is that ontogenetic studies examine smaller mass ranges than interspecific studies, and are therefore not statistically comparable. In this study the metabolic rate of yellowtail kingfish was measured from 0.6 mg-2.2 kg, a mass range comparable to that between a mouse and an elephant. Linear regression of the log transformed data resulted in a scaling exponent of 0.90 and high correlation coefficient. Statistical and information theory comparisons of three other models showed that a segmented linear regression and curvilinear quadratic function were an improvement over a simple linear regression. This confirmed previous observations that the metabolic scaling exponent of fish changes during ontogeny. Ammonia excretion rates were also measured and scaled linearly with an exponent of 0.87. The data showed that the metabolism of yellowtail kingfish during ontogeny did not scale with the commonly cited 2/3 or 3/4 mass exponent. This demonstrates that differences between interspecific and ontogenetic allometries are not necessarily statistical artefacts.

Tribute to P. L. Lutz: respiratory ecophysiology of coral-reef teleosts

One of the most diverse vertebrate communities is found on tropical coral reefs. Coral-reef fishes are not only remarkable in color and shape, but also in several aspects of physiological performance. Early in life, at the end of the pelagic larval stage, coral-reef fishes are the fastest swimmers of all fishes in relation to body size, and show the highest specific rates of maximum oxygen uptake. Upon settling on the reef, coral-reef fishes have to adopt a demersal lifestyle, which involves coping with a habitat that can become severely hypoxic, and some fishes may even have to rely on air breathing when their coral homes become air exposed. Oxygen availability appears to be a major ambient selection pressure, making respiratory function a key factor for survival on coral reefs. Consequently, hypoxia tolerance is widespread among coral-reef fishes. Hypoxia can even be a factor to gamble with for those fishes that are mouthbrooders, or a factor that the coral inhabitants may actively seek to reduce by sleep-swimming at night. Here, we summarize the present knowledge of the respiratory ecophysiology of coral-reef teleosts. From an ecophysiological perspective, the coral reef is an exciting and largely unexplored system for testing existing hypotheses and making new discoveries.

Little left in the tank: metabolic scaling in marine teleosts and its implications for aerobic scope

Fish larvae are the world's smallest vertebrates, and their high rates of mortality may be partially owing to a very limited aerobic scope. Unfortunately, however, no complete empirical dataset exists on the relationship between minimal and maximal metabolism (and thus aerobic scope) for any fish species throughout ontogeny, and thus such an association is hard to delineate. We measured standard and maximal metabolism in three marine fish species over their entire life history, and show that while aerobic scope depends greatly on body size and developmental trajectory, it is extremely small during the early life stages (factorial aerobic scope < or =1.5). Our findings strongly suggest that limited scope for aerobic activity early in life is likely to constrain physiological function and ultimately impact behaviour and possibly survival. Furthermore, our results have important implications for ecological models that incorporate metabolic scaling, and provide additional evidence against the existence of 'universal' scaling exponents.

Scaling of postcontractile phosphocreatine recovery in fish white muscle: effect of intracellular diffusion

In some fish, hypertrophic growth of white muscle leads to very large fibers. The associated low-fiber surface area-to-volume ratio (SA/V) and potentially long intracellular diffusion distances may influence the rate of aerobic processes. We examined the effect of intracellular metabolite diffusion on mass-specific scaling of aerobic capacity and an aerobic process, phosphocreatine (PCr) recovery, in isolated white muscle from black sea bass (Centropristis striata). Muscle fiber diameter increased during growth and was >250 mum in adult fish. Mitochondrial volume density and cytochrome-c oxidase activity had similar small scaling exponents with increasing body mass (-0.06 and -0.10, respectively). However, the mitochondria were more clustered at the sarcolemmal membrane in large fibers, which may offset the low SA/V, but leads to greater intracellular diffusion distances between mitochondrial clusters and ATPases. Despite large differences in intracellular diffusion distances, the postcontractile rate of PCr recovery was largely size independent, with a small scaling exponent for the maximal rate (-0.07) similar to that found for the indicators of aerobic capacity. Consistent with this finding, a mathematical reaction-diffusion analysis indicated that the resynthesis of PCr (and other metabolites) was too slow to be substantially limited by diffusion. These results suggest that the recovery rate in these fibers is primarily limited by low mitochondrial density. Additionally, the change in mitochondrial distribution with increasing fiber size suggests that low SA/V and limited O(2) flux are more influential design constraints in fish white muscle, and perhaps other fast-twitch vertebrate muscles, than is intracellular metabolite diffusive flux.

From record performance to hypoxia tolerance: respiratory transition in damselfish larvae settling on a coral reef

The fastest swimming fishes in relation to size are found among coral reef fish larvae on their way to settle on reefs. By testing two damselfishes, Chromis atripectoralis and Pomacentrus amboinensis, we show that the high swimming speeds of the pre-settlement larvae are accompanied by the highest rates of oxygen uptake ever recorded in ectothermic vertebrates. As expected, these high rates of oxygen uptake occur at the cost of poor hypoxia tolerance. However, hypoxia tolerance is needed when coral reef fishes seek nocturnal shelter from predators within coral colonies, which can become severely hypoxic microhabitats at night. When the larvae settle on the reef, we found that they go through a striking respiratory transformation, i.e. the capacity for rapid oxygen uptake falls, while the ability for high-affinity oxygen uptake at low oxygen levels is increased. This transition to hypoxia tolerance is needed when they settle on the reef; this was strengthened by our finding that small resident larvae of Acanthochromis polyacanthus, a damselfish lacking a planktonic larval stage, do not display such a transition, being well adapted to hypoxia and showing relatively low maximum rates of oxygen uptake that change little with age.

Plasma lactate and glucose flushes following burst swimming in silver trevally (Pseudocaranx dentex: Carangidae) support the “releaser” hypothesis

Silver trevally (Pseudocaranx dentex) are highly athletic marine teleosts inhabiting the tropical waters of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Burst swimming increased plasma lactate from 1.6 +/- 0.4 S.D. to 21.6 +/- 3.3 mM (N = 6), among the highest values reported for functional hypoxia in fish. These data support the hypothesis that elite swimmers release lactate produced in the myotome into the circulation following anaerobic burst activity. The fish further developed a hyperglycaemic response to burst exercise with plasma glucose increasing from 6.6 +/- 2.0 to 13.2 +/- 2.3 mM (N = 6). Post-exercise erythrocyte swelling also occurred, but nucleoside triphosphate levels remained unaltered and do not provide a mechanism to modulate haemoglobin function during exercise. Metabolism of the blood cells appeared to be fuelled by both lactate and glucose.

Beyond the '3/4-power law': variation in the intra- and interspecific scaling of metabolic rate in animals

In this review I show that the '3/4-power scaling law' of metabolic rate is not universal, either within or among animal species. Significant variation in the scaling of metabolic rate with body mass is described mainly for animals, but also for unicells and plants. Much of this variation, which can be related to taxonomic, physiological, and/or environmental differences, is not adequately explained by existing theoretical models, which are also reviewed. As a result, synthetic explanatory schemes based on multiple boundary constraints and on the scaling of multiple energy-using processes are advocated. It is also stressed that a complete understanding of metabolic scaling will require the identification of both proximate (functional) and ultimate (evolutionary) causes. Four major types of intraspecific metabolic scaling with body mass are recognized [based on the power function R=aMb, where R is respiration (metabolic) rate, a is a constant, M is body mass, and b is the scaling exponent]: Type I: linear, negatively allometric (b<1); Type II: linear, isometric (b=1); Type III: nonlinear, ontogenetic shift from isometric (b=1), or nearly isometric, to negatively allometric (b<1); and Type IV: nonlinear, ontogenetic shift from positively allometric (b>1) to one or two later phases of negative allometry (b<1). Ontogenetic changes in the metabolic intensity of four component processes (i.e. growth, reproduction, locomotion, and heat production) appear to be important in these different patterns of metabolic scaling. These changes may, in turn, be shaped by age (size)-specific patterns of mortality. In addition, major differences in interspecific metabolic scaling are described, especially with respect to mode of temperature regulation, body-size range, and activity level. A 'metabolic-level boundaries hypothesis' focusing on two major constraints (surface-area limits on resource/waste exchange processes and mass/volume limits on power production) can explain much, but not all of this variation. My analysis indicates that further empirical and theoretical work is needed to understand fully the physiological and ecological bases for the considerable variation in metabolic scaling that is observed both within and among species. Recommended approaches for doing this are discussed. I conclude that the scaling of metabolism is not the simple result of a physical law, but rather appears to be the more complex result of diverse adaptations evolved in the context of both physico-chemical and ecological constraints.

Metabolic changes in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) during embryogenesis and hypoxia as determined by in vivo 31P NMR

In vivo (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) was used to determine phosphometabolite changes in medaka (Oryzias latipes) during embryogenesis and hypoxia. NMR data were acquired using a flow-through NMR tube perfusion system designed to both deliver oxygenated water to embryos and accommodate a hypoxic challenge. Measurements of embryogenesis at 12- and 24-h intervals throughout 8 days of development (n = 3 per time point, 900 embryos per replicate) and during acute hypoxia (n = 6, 900 embryos at Iwamatsu stage 37 per replicate) were performed via NMR, and replicate samples (n = 4, 250 embryos each) were flash frozen for HPLC analysis. The hypoxic challenge experiment consisted of data acquisition with recirculating water (pre-hypoxic control period; 1 h), without recirculating water (hypoxic challenge; 1 h), then again with recirculating water (recovery period; 1.3 h). Concentrations of ATP, phosphocreatine (PCr), orthophosphate (P(i)), phosphomonoesters (PME), phosphodiesters (PDE), and intracellular pH (pH(i)) were determined by NMR, and ATP, ADP, AMP, GTP, GDP, and PCr were also determined via HPLC. During embryogenesis, [ATP] and [PCr] as determined by HPLC increased from 1-day post fertilization (DPF) levels of 0.93+/-0.08 and 2.48+/-0.21 micromol/mg (dry tissue), respectively, to 7.24+/-0.77 and 15.66+/-1.08 micromol/mg, respectively, by day 8. [ATP] and [PCr] measured by both NMR and HPLC fluctuated over 1-3 DPF, then increased significantly (p<0.05) over 3-8 DPF, while [PME] and [PDE] decreased (p<0.05) throughout embryogenesis. NMR and HPLC measurements revealed 1-3, 4-5, and 6-8 DPF as periods of embryogenesis significantly different from each other (p<0.05), and representing important transitions in metabolism and growth. During hypoxic challenge, [ATP] and [PCr] declined (p<0.05), [PME] and [PDE] decreased slightly, and [P(i)] increased (p<0.05). All phosphometabolites returned to pre-hypoxia concentrations during recovery. The pH(i) decreased (p<0.05) from 7.10+/-0.03 to 6.94+/-0.03 as a result of hypoxia, and failed to return to pre-hypoxic levels within the 1.3-h recovery phase. Results demonstrate the utility of in vivo (31)P NMR to detect significant alterations in phosphorylated nucleotides and phosphometabolites at specific developmental stages during medaka development and that late-stage medaka utilize PCr to generate ATP under hypoxic conditions.

Scaling effects on metabolism of a teleost

Scaling effects on citrate synthase (CS), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6-PDH), RNA. RNA/DNA ratio and protein contents of brain, liver and skeletal muscle were studied in a teleost, Clarias batrachus. The activity of white skeletal muscle CS decreased significantly as a function of increasing body mass of the fish. It shows that the fulfilment of energy demand in white skeletal muscle is not dependent on aerobic metabolism. The activity of liver G6-PDH decreased with the increasing body mass showing reduction in NADPH generation for lipogenic activity. However, increase in G6-PDH activity showed enhancement in reductive synthesis in skeletal muscle of the larger-sized individuals. A positive scaling of RNA, RNA/DNA ratio and protein contents reflects changes in macromolecular turnover for ATP-supplying enzymes and proteins.

Seasonal acclimatisation of muscle metabolic enzymes in a reptile (Alligator mississippiensis)

Reptiles living in heterogeneous thermal environments are often thought to show behavioural thermoregulation or to become inactive when environmental conditions prevent the achievement of preferred body temperatures. By contrast, thermally homogeneous environments preclude behavioural thermoregulation, and ectotherms inhabiting these environments (particularly fish in which branchial respiration requires body temperature to follow water temperature) modify their biochemical capacities in response to long-term seasonal temperature fluctuations. Reptiles may also be active at seasonally varying body temperatures and could, therefore, gain selective advantages from regulating biochemical capacities. Hence, we tested the hypothesis that a reptile (the American alligator Alligator mississippiensis) that experiences pronounced seasonal fluctuations in body temperature will show seasonal acclimatisation in the activity of its metabolic enzymes. We measured body temperatures of alligators in the wild in winter and summer (N=7 alligators in each season), and we collected muscle samples from wild alligators (N=31 in each season) for analysis of metabolic enzyme activity (lactate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase and cytochrome c oxidase). There were significant differences in mean daily body temperatures between winter (15.66+/-0.43 degrees C; mean +/- S.E.M.) and summer (29.34+/-0.21 degrees C), and daily body temperatures fluctuated significantly more in winter compared with summer. Alligators compensated for lower winter temperatures by increasing enzyme activities, and the activities of cytochrome c oxidase and lactate dehydrogenase were significantly greater in winter compared with summer at all assay temperatures. The activity of citrate synthase was significantly greater in the winter samples at the winter body temperature (15 degrees C) but not at the summer body temperature (30 degrees C). The thermal sensitivity (Q(10)) of mitochondrial enzymes decreased significantly in winter compared with in summer. The activity of mitochondrial enzymes was significantly greater in males than in females, but there were no differences between sexes for lactate dehydrogenase activity. The differences between sexes could be the result of the sex-specific seasonal demands for locomotor performance. Our data indicate that biochemical acclimatisation is important in thermoregulation of reptiles and that it is not sufficient to base conclusions about their thermoregulatory ability entirely on behavioural patterns.

Key metabolic enzymes and muscle structure in triplefin fishes (Tripterygiidae): a phylogenetic comparison

Metabolic potential and muscle development were investigated relative to habitat and phylogeny in seven species of New Zealand triplefin fishes. Activity was measured in three principal glycolytic enzymes (lactate dehydrogenase, pyruvate kinase and phosphofructokinase) and two oxidative enzymes (citrate synthase and L3-hydroxyacyl CoA:NAD(+) oxidoreductase). The non-bicarbonate buffering capacity of caudal muscle was also estimated. Phylogenetic independent contrast analyses were used to reduce the effects of phylogenetic history in analyses. A positive relationship between metabolic potential and the effective water velocity at respective habitat depths was found only after the exclusion from analyses of the semi-pelagic species Obliquichthys maryannae. O. maryannae showed high glycolytic enzyme activities, and displayed double the activity of both oxidative enzymes relative to the six benthic species. Histochemically stained sections taken immediately posterior to the vent showed that adult O. maryannae and larval Forsterygion lapillum had significantly more red muscle, and smaller cross-sectional areas of white and red muscle fibres, than adults of benthic species. The distribution of red muscle in adult O. maryannae resembled that of larval F. lapillum, and differed from the typical teleost pattern seen in adults of the six benthic species. Both adult O. maryannae and larval F. lapillum have an expansive lateralis superficialis muscle, typical of larval fish, which encompasses much of the caudal trunk. Results suggest that anaerobic potential in New Zealand triplefins: (a) increases with the locomotory requirements of different habitats, and (b) displays a negative relationship with depth-dependent water velocities in benthic species. O. maryannae appears to have increased aerobic potential for sustained swimming by paedomorphic retention of larval muscle architecture.