Hourly and total oxygen consumption by ova of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., during embryogenesis, at two temperatures and three levels of dissolved oxygen

Abstract

Weighted mean hourly rates of oxygen consumption in embryonated ova of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., during embryogenesis, were reduced significantly by levels of dissolved oxygen below air saturation and by a temperature of 5 °C, relative to those for ova incubated at 10 °C. Total oxygen consumption during embryogenesis also was reduced significantly by the lower levels of dissolved oxygen, but not by temperature. The decrease in the pace of embryogenesis in the lots of ova at 5 °C extended the developmental time so that the lower rate of oxygen uptake was offset. Thus, within each level of dissolved oxygen there was no appreciable difference in the products of time units and units of oxygen uptake. At 5 °C, 100% air saturation, mean hourly uptake was 0.0141 mg O2/ovum, and total uptake was 28.153 mg O2/ovum. At 10 °C, 100% air saturation, these values were 0.0270 mg O2/ovum, and 27.974 mg O2/ovum, respectively. Values for ova incubated at 50 and 30% air saturation were correspondingly lower.