Abstract
Routine respiratory metabolic rates of mosquitofish (∼0.2 g live weight) were determined at 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35°C at normoxic, hypoxic (= 40 torr PO2), and extreme hypoxic (= 25 torr PO2) conditions. Rates generally increased with increases in temperature (overall Q10 = 2.11 at normoxia). Significant depressions (P<0.05) in rates were measured at 30 and 35°C at extreme hypoxic conditions. Males exhibited higher mortality at extreme hypoxia than females, especially at 35°C. Metabolic rates were significantly elevated at hyperoxic conditions (= 300 torr PO2) at 25 and 30°C, but not at 35°C. Resting routine rates of less-confined fish were determined at 20, 25, and 30°C at normoxia and were significantly lower than the routine rates at the same temperatures. Behavioral experiments showed that aquatic surface respiration is initiated by mosquitofish at ∼20–65 torr PO2 and is obligatory below 20 torr at 20° C. Overall, respiratory metabolic rates provide a quantitative metabolic basis from which predation rates of mosquitofish in various environments can be estimated.
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