Effect of rapid temperature change on resting routine metabolic rates of two benthic elasmobranchs

Abstract

In this study, flow-through respirometry was used to test the effect of acute temperature change on resting routine metabolic rates of two benthic elasmobranchs, Atlantic stingrays, Dasyatis sabina (n = 7) and whitespotted bamboo sharks, Chiloscyllium plagiosum (n = 7) kept under fluctuating temperature regime of 24-27 and 23-25°C, respectively. Atlantic stingrays and whitespotted bamboo sharks showed a temperature sensitivity (Q(10)) of 2.10 (21-31°C) and 2.08 (20-28°C), respectively. Not surprisingly, oxygen consumption (MO(2)) increased in both species as temperature was raised. Acute increases in oxygen uptake may be useful during activities such as foraging, and some elasmobranchs may alter physiological processes by taking advantage of thermal variability in the environment. However, further investigation of different physiological processes is needed to better understand how temperature variation may affect behavioural choices of fishes.