Patterns of routine swimming and metabolic rate in juvenile cyyprinids at three temperatures: analysis with a respirometer-activity-monitoring system

Summary

The spontaneous swimming activity and oxygen consumption of juvenile roach (Rutilus rutilus (L.)), were monitored for 48–72 h at 8, 15 and 20°C and a photoperiod (L:D) of 11:13. At low levels of activity metabolic cost is constant and thus corresponds to the standard rate of metabolism (“low cost” activity). At higher levels of activity metabolic cost increases in proportion with the degree of activity. The slope for this “high cost” activity indicates an expenditure of 0.4–1.3 μmol O₂·g^-1·h^-1 per arbitrary activity unit at the three experimental temperatures. Extrapolation of this relationship to zero activity would underestimate the measured standard metabolic rate. “High cost” activity occurred in only one experiment out of three at 8°C, “low cost” activity hardly at all at 20°C, whereas at 15°C both forms of activity were present in five of the seven experiments conducted. Thus, not only the intensity but also the pattern of activity is affected by environmental temperature.