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Morphological features and functions of bluefin tuna change with growth

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Abstract

Morphological features of Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis have important functions for its fast swimming. Morphological features of tuna change with growth; therefore, morphological functions may develop during this process. In this study, we precisely quantified the morphology of bluefin tuna with growth from juvenile to young adult using a three-dimensional laser profiler and evaluated the fluid dynamic characteristics of tuna using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and an accurate model based on measured data. As results of measurement of morphological features, the aspect ratio and sweepback angle, which are indices of hydrodynamic characteristics for a hydrofoil, suggested that the lift force of caudal fin was increased as the tuna grows. The results of CFD analysis showed that the coefficient of drag force gradually decreased with growth. Pectoral fins generated lift force, and the ratio of lift force to submerged weight (FL/SW) increased as the tuna grew to 0.2 m total length (TL). After the tuna exceeded 0.2 m TL, FL/SW changed to a wider range in angle of attack as the tuna grew. These results suggest that the morphological function of bluefin tuna develops to enhance its swimming ability as it grows from juvenile to young adult.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the staff at the Fisheries Laboratory, Kinki University. This study was supported in part by grants-in-aid from the 21st Century COE program of Kinki University; and by scientific research (C) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) No. 18580195; and by JSPS Fellowship No. 19-53312.

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  1. Graduate School of Agriculture, Kinki University, Nara, Nara, 631-8505, Japan

    Yumiko Tamura & Tsutomu Takagi

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  1. Yumiko Tamura
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  2. Tsutomu Takagi
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Correspondence to Tsutomu Takagi.

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Tamura, Y., Takagi, T. Morphological features and functions of bluefin tuna change with growth. Fish Sci 75, 567–575 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-009-0067-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-009-0067-3

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