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Inducible heat tolerance in Antarctic notothenioid fishes

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Abstract

Significant increases in heat tolerance (time of survival at 14°C) were observed for some, but not all, species of notothenioid fishes collected from McMurdo Sound, Antarctica (77°51′S) following acclimation to 4°C. The increase in thermal tolerance was rapid in Trematomus bernacchii, developing within 1–2 days of acclimation to 4°C. Long-term (6–8 weeks) acclimation to 4°C led to greater heat tolerance in Trematomus pennellii than in T. bernacchii. Unlike its demersal congeners, the cryopelagic notothenioid Pagothenia borchgrevinki did not increase heat tolerance during warm acclimation. A deep-living zoarcid fish, Lycodichthys dearborni, also failed to increase heat tolerance, but survived significantly (> threefold) longer at 14°C than the notothenioids.

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Acknowledgement

We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Dr. G. Hofmann and colleagues in collection and maintenance of specimens (through support of NSF grant OPP03-01927). We also express our gratitude to the staff of the Crary Science and Engineering Center for their valuable assistance. This work was supported by NSF grant OPP05-04072 to Dr. Donal Manahan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Portland State University, Portland, OR, 97207, USA

    Jason E. Podrabsky

  2. Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, USA

    George N. Somero

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  1. Jason E. Podrabsky
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  2. George N. Somero
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Correspondence to Jason E. Podrabsky.

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Podrabsky, J.E., Somero, G.N. Inducible heat tolerance in Antarctic notothenioid fishes. Polar Biol 30, 39–43 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-006-0157-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-006-0157-y

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