The predominant stride-frequency for routine swimming in catsharks (Scyliorhinus canicula) generates high power at high efficiency in the red musculature

Abstract

Videos of free swimming of catsharks (Scyliorhinus canicula) were analysed to give values of swimming speed (units: FL (fish lengths) s−1), stride-length (forward movement in the direction of travel per cycle of body undulation (units: FL) and stride-frequency (units: s−1). Most of the swims (139 of 163, 85%) were at speeds less than 0.545 FL s−1 and were categorized as slow. The rest (24/163, 15%) were categorized as fast. Stride-lengths and stride-frequencies could be evaluated for 115 of the slow swims and 16 of the fast swims. We discuss the fast swim results, but there were so few fast swims that no firm conclusions could be made. As swim speed increased during slow swims, there was a strong increase stride-length [slope 0.965, P < 0.0001)] and a small increase in stride-frequency. Most stride-frequencies (70/115, 61%) were in the range 0.68–0.88 s−1. Previous experiments on red muscle isolated of catshark showed that in this range of frequencies of sinusoidal movement, high power was produced at high efficiency (Curtin and Woledge b). Lower frequencies gave less power and at higher frequencies the efficiency of energy conversion was lower. Thus, we conclude that during routine swimming catsharks choose a swimming speed that optimizes red muscle performance in terms of power and efficiency.