Modelling energetic costs of fish swimming.
The oxygen consumption rates of two cyprinid fishes, carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) and roach (Rutilus rutilus (L.)), were analysed for a wide range of body mass and swimming speed by computerized intermittent-flow respirometry. Bioenergetic models were derived, based on fish mass (M) and swimming speed (U), to predict the minimal speed and mass-specific active metabolic rate (AMR) in these fishes (AMR=aMbUc). Mass and speed together explained more than 90% of the variance in total swimming costs in both cases. The derived models show that carp consume far more oxygen at a specific speed and body mass, thus being less efficient in energy use during swimming than roach. It was further found that in carp (AMR=0.02M0.8U0.95) the metabolic increment during swimming is more strongly effected by speed, whereas in roach (AMR=0.02M0.93U0.6) it is more strongly effected by body mass. The different swimming traits of carp and roach are suitable for their respective lifestyles and ecological demands.
Ohlberger
Jan
J
Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, 12587 Berlin, Germany.
Staaks
Georg
G
van Dijk
Peter L M
PL
Hölker
Franz
F
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D003530:Cyprinidae / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D016014:Linear Models; D008954:Models, Biological; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*