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The relationships between fish health, metabolic rate, swimming performance and recovery in return‐run sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum)
Author(s) -
Tierney K B,
Farrell A P
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of fish diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1365-2761
pISSN - 0140-7775
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2761.2004.00590.x
Subject(s) - oncorhynchus , biology , fish <actinopterygii> , physiological condition , fishery , zoology , ecology
The repeat swimming ability and oxygen uptake ( M o 2 ) of adult sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum), were assessed at ambient water temperatures at three field locations along their migration route. Following these measurements, internal and external fish condition was evaluated according to United States Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. Here we report on the physiological characteristics of fish having either moderate or severe levels of disease and injury. Routine oxygen uptake ( M o 2 ) did not differ between healthy fish and those with indices of ill health. In contrast, fish classified as sick, which included conditions of damaged internal organs, an Ichthyophonus spp. heart infection, a Saprolegnia spp. gill infection, and skin wounds, had a lower post‐exercise M o 2 and were unable to repeat their critical swim speed ( U crit ) on the second swim test. Moderate levels of disease or injury did not significantly affect either U crit or post‐exercise M o 2 . We conclude that the ability of adult salmon to recover quickly from exercise may be a useful indicator of sublethal pathologies.