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Respiration Rates of Eurasian Perch Perca fluviatilis and Ruffe: Lower Energy Costs in Groups
Author(s) -
Schleuter Diana,
HaertelBorer Susanne,
Fischer Philipp,
Eckmann Reiner
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1577/t06-123.1
Subject(s) - perch , respirometry , bioenergetics , respiration , biology , diel vertical migration , shoaling and schooling , fish <actinopterygii> , ecology , fishery , respiration rate , zoology , botany , biochemistry , mitochondrion , microbiology and biotechnology
Abstract The effect of group size on the routine metabolic rate and activity of the two shoaling percids, Eurasian perch Perca fluviatilis and ruffe Gymnocephalus cernuus , was studied by using twin‐flow intermittent respirometry and time‐lapse video techniques. In both species, we found a clear group effect. In isolated fish, oxygen consumption was as much as twice that in groups of eight fish, with intermediate values in groups of four fish. The routine metabolic rate was highest during twilight in both species, irrespective of group size. Eurasian perch consumed more oxygen and were more active during the day than during the night, whereas the oxygen consumption and activity of ruffe were higher during the night than during the day. With increasing group size, the differences between day and night decreased and the diel cycle was less pronounced. Individual fish may benefit from the presence of conspecifics through a calming effect that reduces their energetic costs. We advise that the social behavior of a species be more thoroughly considered when planning behavioral, growth, and respiration experiments. Because bioenergetic model parameters for many species are based on data gained from isolated fish, we conclude that without considering group size the results of bioenergetic modeling may be seriously biased.