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The physiology of the Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) at pH 8.0

Journal of Comparative Physiology B volume 188, pages 393–408 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

The Tambaqui is a model neotropical teleost which is of great economic and cultural importance in artisanal fisheries and commercial aquaculture. It thrives in ion-poor, often acidic Amazonian waters and exhibits excellent regulation of physiology down to water pH 4.0. Curiously, however, it is reported to perform poorly in aquaculture at pH 8.0, an only slightly alkaline pH which would be benign for most freshwater fish. In initial experiments with Tambaqui of intermediate size (30–50 g), we found that ammonia excretion rate was unchanged at pH 4, 5, 6, and 7, but elevated after 20–24 h at pH 8, exactly opposite the pattern seen in most teleosts. Subsequent experiments with large Tambaqui (150–300 g) demonstrated that only ammonia, and not urea excretion was increased at pH 8.0, and that the elevation was proportional to a general increase in MO2. There was an accompanying elevation in net acidic equivalent excretion and/or basic equivalent uptake which occurred mainly at the gills. Net Na+ balance was little affected while Cl− balance became negative, implicating a disturbance of Cl− versus base exchange rather than Na+ versus acid exchange. Arterial blood pH increased by 0.2 units at pH 8.0, reflecting combined metabolic and respiratory alkaloses. Most parameters recovered to control levels by 18–24 h after return to pH 6.0. With respect to large Tambaqui, we conclude that a physiology adapted to acidic pH performs inappropriately at moderately alkaline pH. In small Tambaqui (4–15 g), the responses were very different, with an initial inhibition of ammonia excretion rate at pH 8.0 followed by a subsequent restoration of control levels. Elevated ammonia excretion rate occurred only after return to pH 6.0. Furthermore, MO2, plasma cortisol, and branchial vH+ATPase activities all declined during pH 8.0 exposure in small Tambaqui, in contrast to the responses in larger fish. Overall, small Tambaqui appear to cope better at pH 8.0, a difference that may correlate with their natural history in the wild.

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Acknowledgements

Supported in Brazil by FAPEAM and CNPq through the INCT-ADAPTA grant to ALV, and a Science Without Borders Program grant to ALV and CMW (CNPq Process Number: 401303/2014-4), and in Canada by a Discovery grant to CMW from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). CMW was supported by the Canada Research Chairs program and a visiting fellowship from the Science Without Borders Program (CNPq-Brazil). RJG was supported by a Faculty Research Grant and an International Opportunities Grant from the University of San Diego. MSF is the recipient of a Post-Doctoral Fellowship from the Brazilian Centre for Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES). SBM is the recipient of an MSc Fellowship from CAPES. ALV received a Research Fellowship from CNPq. We thank Mike Wilkie for advice, and Bernd Pelster, Ora Johannsson, Ellen Jung, and Sunita Nadella for assistance, and four anonymous reviewers whose constructive comments improved the manuscript.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada

    Chris M. Wood

  2. Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Chris M. Wood

  3. Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Florida, USA

    Chris M. Wood

  4. Laboratory of Ecophysiology and Molecular Evolution, Brazilian National Institute for Research of the Amazon (INPA), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

    Chris M. Wood, Márcio Soares Ferreira, Susana Braz-Mota & Adalberto Luis Val

  5. Department of Biology, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA

    R. J. Gonzalez

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  1. Chris M. Wood
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  2. R. J. Gonzalez
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Communicated by G. Heldmaier.

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Wood, C.M., Gonzalez, R.J., Ferreira, M.S. et al. The physiology of the Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) at pH 8.0. J Comp Physiol B 188, 393–408 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-017-1137-y

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Keywords

  • Alkalinity
  • Ammonia
  • Urea
  • Oxygen consumption
  • Nitrogen quotient
  • Acid–base regulation
  • Ionoregulation