Effect of temperature on the metabolism, behaviourand oxygen requirements of Sparus aurata
Remen, Mette; Olsen, Rolf Erik; Oppedal, Frode; Thorsheim, Grethe Beate; Folkedal, Ole; Sitjà-Bobadilla, Ariadna; Pérez-Sánchez, Jaume; Nederlof, Marit A. J.
Journal article, Peer reviewed
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Date
2015Metadata
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- Institutt for biologi [2504]
- Publikasjoner fra CRIStin - NTNU [36890]
Abstract
We investigated the effect of temperature on the limiting oxygen saturation (LOS) of
gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata. This threshold was defined as the % O2 saturation where fish
no longer upheld their routine metabolic rate (RMR, the metabolic rate of fed and active fish) during
a progressive decline in oxygen saturation. S. aurata (398 ± 10 g, mean ± SE) were kept in 3
replicate tanks and subjected to 3 changes in temperature: 16 to 20°C, 20 to 16°C and 16 to 12°C.
At each temperature, fish were left to acclimatize for 8 to 10 d, before daily feed intake (DFI), the
routine oxygen consumption rate (routine MO2, mg kg−1 min−1) and the LOS were measured. In
addition, at 20°C the swimming speed was measured in fish subjected to a decline in O2 from full
air saturation to levels below the LOS (minimum of 8−10% O2). For the temperature range tested
(12−20°C), DFI, MO2 and LOS increased exponentially with temperature (7.5-, 3.6- and 2.2-fold,
respectively) with mean (± SE) LOS being 17 ± 1, 21 ± 0 and 35 ± 5% O2 at 12, 16 and 20°C, respectively.
A gradual decline in swimming activity was observed as O2 declined below the LOS, indicating
increasing metabolic stress and/or a ‘sit-out’ coping strategy which may prolong survival
time in severe hypoxia. The results show the importance of temperature as an influential variable
over the environmental O2 requirements of S. aurata.