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The effects of temperature on swimming performance of juvenile shortnose sturgeon ( Acipenser brevirostrum )
Author(s) -
Deslauriers D.,
Kieffer J. D.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of applied ichthyology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.392
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1439-0426
pISSN - 0175-8659
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0426.2012.01932.x
Subject(s) - acipenser , biology , juvenile , sturgeon , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , zoology , plateau (mathematics) , ecology , mathematics , mathematical analysis
Summary The swimming performance of juvenile shortnose sturgeon (∼16 cm TL, ∼20 g), Acipenser brevirostrum , was quantified with regards to temperature (5 to 25°C) using both increased ( U crit ) and fixed velocity (endurance) tests in a laboratory setting. Sturgeons were found to show reduced U crit values at 5 and 10°C (25.99 and 28.86 cm s −1 respectively), with performance beginning to plateau at 15°C through 25°C (33.99 cm s −1 ). For the endurance protocol, fish were tested at speeds of 35, 40 and 45 cm s −1 at 5, 15 and 25°C. Performance within a single speed was similar at all temperatures, indicating the usage of anaerobic metabolism to fuel locomotion at these higher velocities. Overall, shortnose sturgeon demonstrated high tolerance towards a wide range of temperatures but showed few differences between performance levels at colder or warmer water conditions.