Swimming Performance and Metabolism of Cultured Golden Shiners

Abstract

AbstractSwimming performance and metabolism of golden shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas were examined by use of swim tunnel respirometry. The oxygen consumption and tail beat frequency (TBF) at various swimming speeds, an estimation of the standard metabolic rate (SMR), and the critical swimming speed (U crit) were determined for golden shiners that were tested in 10 groups of 5 individuals each. Oxygen consumption and TBF both increased as swimming speed increased. The mean U crit for the first, second, and third individual to fatigue in each group was 38.0, 41.7, and 47.2 cm/s, respectively. The SMR was estimated at 131 mg O2·kg−1·h−1 for fish averaging 5.3 g. The active metabolic rate averaged 150 ± 14 mg O2·kg−1·h−1 (mean ± SE) at 10 cm/s, increased to 163 ± 20 mg O2·kg−1·h−1 at 30 cm/s, and peaked at 177 ± 19 mg O2·kg−1·h−1 at 50 cm/s. Total aerobic cost of transport (0.36 cal·g−1·km−1; i.e., the metabolic cost of swimming) and net cost of transport (0.08 cal·g−1·km−1) were lowest between 30 and 40 cm/s.