The effect of temperature and ammonia exposure on swimming performance of brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis)

• Published in: Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology Vol. 156; no. 4; pp. 523 - 528
• Main Authors: Tudorache, C., O'Keefe, R.A., Benfey, T.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.08.2010
• Subjects: Acclimatization - physiology; Ammonia - analysis; Ammonia - blood; Ammonia - pharmacology; Animals; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Behavior, Animal - physiology; Behaviour; Critical swimming speed; Freshwater; Gait - drug effects; Gait - physiology; Migration; Muscles - chemistry; Physiology; Raceway; Salvelinus fontinalis; Swimming - physiology; Temperature; Toxicology; Trout - physiology; Water; Raceway; Toxicology; Critical swimming speed; Physiology; Behaviour; Migration
• ISSN: 1095-6433; 1531-4332
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2010.04.010

The effects of water temperature and ammonia concentration on swimming capacity of brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis, Mitchill, 1814) were determined by measuring gait transition speed (Ugt, cms−1), maximum burst speed (Umax, cms−1), tail-beat amplitude (a, cm), tail-beat frequency (f, Hz), maximum acceleration of bursts (Amax, cms−2), number of bursts, distance of bursts (cm) and total swimming distance (cm) in a 4.5m long experimental raceway with increasing upstream water velocity. Temperatures other than the acclimation temperature of 15°C significantly reduced swimming characteristics of gait transition, i.e. Ugt and Amax, while increased ammonia concentration reduced the measures of swimming after Ugt: Umax, the relationship between f and swimming speed above Ugt, a, Amax and the distance travelled with each swimming burst above Ugt. This study, using a novel raceway set-up shows various effects of temperature and ammonia exposure on the swimming performance of brook charr and can be used to establish threshold values for environmental management.