Swimming performance and metabolism of 0+ year Thymallus arcticus

• Published in: Journal of fish biology Vol. 67; no. 4; pp. 910 - 918
• Main Authors: Deegan, L. A., Golden, H. E., Harrison, J., Kracko, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK; Malden, USA Blackwell Science Ltd 01.10.2005; Blackwell
• Subjects: Agnatha. Pisces; Biological and medical sciences; fish metabolism; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; habitat use; swimming performance; Thymallus arcticus; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution; Salmonidae; Vertebrata; Pisces; fish metabolism: habitat use; Biology; Swimming; Habitat selection; swimming performance; Metabolism; Performance
• ISSN: 0022-1112; 1095-8649
• DOI: 10.1111/j.0022-1112.2005.00784.x

The prolonged swimming speed and metabolic rate of 0+ year Arctic grayling Thymallus articus were examined with respect to current velocity, water temperature and fish size, and compared to conditions fish occupy in the river. Oxygen consumption (mg O2 h−1) increased with fish mass and temperature (6–23° C), with a steep increase in metabolic rate between 12 and 16° C. Absolute prolonged swimming speed (cm s−1) increased rapidly with fish size (total length, LT, and mass), however, fish in the natural stream habitat occupied current velocities between 15 and 25 cm s−1 or 4 LT s−1, approximately half their potential prolonged swimming speed (10 LT s−1).