Effects of environmental hypoxia on oxygen consumption rate and swimming activity in juvenile white sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus, in relation to temperature and life intervals

• Published in: Environmental biology of fishes Vol. 50; no. 4; pp. 383 - 389
• Main Authors: Crocker, C.E. (California Univ., Davis, CA (USA). Dept. of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology), Cech, J.J. Jr
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.12.1997; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: ACIPENSER; Acipenser transmontanus; Aquaculture; Biological and medical sciences; CONSOMMATION D'OXYGENE; CONSUMO DE OXIGENO; Environmental effects; Fish; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hypoxia; Intermediate and energetic metabolism; MEASUREMENT; MEDICION; MESURE; METABOLISM; METABOLISME; METABOLISMO; Metabolisms and neurohumoral controls; OXYGEN CONSUMPTION; Respirometers; Swimming; TEMPERATURA; TEMPERATURE; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Laboratory study; Energy metabolism; Oxygen; Temperature; Oxygen consumption; Environmental factor; Freshwater environment; Vertebrata; Animal activity; Energetic cost; Pisces; Hypoxia; Acipenser transmontanus; Swimming
• ISSN: 0378-1909; 1573-5133
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1007362018352

Routine oxygen consumption rates (MO^sub 2^) and swimming activity rates of juvenile white sturgeon were determined using closed respirometers at life-interval-appropriate temperatures: 10° C (0.2 g mean wet weight), 16° C (1.9 g mean wet weight), and 20° C (63.1 g mean wet weight) under normoxic (PO^sub 2^ > 140 mmHg) and moderately hypoxic (PO^sub 2^=80 ± 5.0 mmHg) water conditions. At all temperatures and body sizes, hypoxia significantly depressed (p < 0.05) MO^sub 2^ (57% mean reduction) and swimming activity (70% mean reduction). Overall mean MO^sub 2^ was 228 µg O^sub 2^ g^sup -1^ wet weight h^sup -1^ (normoxia) and 99 µg O^sub 2^ g^sup -1^ wet weight h^sup -1^ (hypoxia). Thus, juvenile white sturgeon appear to decrease overall energy expenditures (hypometabolism) during hypoxia via reductions in spontaneous swimming activity. This is a life style that may increase survival during widespread or prolonged environmental hypoxia.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]