title: Effect of temperature on swimming performance in juvenile southern catfish (Silurus meridionalis).
abstract: The critical swimming speed (U(crit), aerobic swimming performance) and endurance (anaerobic swimming performance) of juvenile southern catfish Silurus meridionalis Chen (9.8+/-0.1 cm body length and 8.09+/-0.17 g body mass, n=226) were investigated at 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 degrees C. Both absolute U(crit) (cm s(-1)) and relative critical swimming speed (U(r), BL s(-1)) of juvenile southern catfish increased in the temperature zone from 10 to 25 degrees C (p<0.05) and plateaued between 25 and 30 degrees C. However, the relationship between endurance time (tested at 1.23, 1.59 and 1.79 U(r-max)) and temperature followed an approximate bell-shape curve as temperature rose (p<0.05). The optimum temperatures of maximal U(crit) (3.40 BL s(-1)) of juvenile southern catfish was 28.4 degrees C. But that of experimental fish's endurance which was tested at velocity of 1.59 and 1.79 U(r-max) was 23.2 degrees C. These results show that temperature has a significant effect on swimming performance in juvenile southern catfish.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Evolutionary Physiology and Behavior, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, 400047, China. lingqingzeng@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ling-Qing
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Zhen-Dong
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Shi-Jian
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Jiang-Lan
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Yu-Xiang
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002397:Catfishes / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature