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Thermal sensitivity of scope for activity in Pagothenia borchgrevinki, a cryopelagic Antarctic nototheniid fish

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Abstract

The thermal sensitivity of scope for activity was studied in the Antarctic nototheniid fish Pagothenia borchgrevinki. The scope for activity of P. borchgrevinki at 0°C was 189 mg O2 kg−1 h−1 (factorial scope 6.8) which is similar to that of temperate and tropical species at their environmental temperatures, providing no evidence for metabolic cold adaptation of maximum activity. The scope for activity increased to a maximum value of 266 mg O2 kg−1 h−1 (factorial scope 8.3) at 3°C and then decreased from 3 to 6°C. The thermal sensitivity of critical swimming speed was also investigated and followed a similar pattern to aerobic scope for activity, suggesting oxygen limitation of aerobic performance. Oxygen consumption rates and ventilation frequencies were monitored for 24 h after the swimming challenge and the recovery of both parameters to resting levels was rapid and independent of temperature.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the invaluable logistical support provided by Antarctica New Zealand during the Antarctic fieldwork, and the doctoral scholarship funding from the New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (C. Lowe). The experimental protocols were approved by the University of Canterbury Animal Ethics Committee.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Landcare Research, PO Box 69, Lincoln, 8152, New Zealand

    Cara J. Lowe

  2. School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand

    William Davison

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  1. Cara J. Lowe
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  2. William Davison
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Correspondence to Cara J. Lowe.

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Lowe, C.J., Davison, W. Thermal sensitivity of scope for activity in Pagothenia borchgrevinki, a cryopelagic Antarctic nototheniid fish. Polar Biol 29, 971–977 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-006-0139-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-006-0139-0

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