Swimming Kinematics Research Articles

Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) Tail-Beat Frequency Measurement Using Implanted Bioimpedance Sensing

Estimating tailbeat frequency (TBF) is a crucial component of fish swimming kinematics and performance, particularly because it provides information about energetics and behavioral responses to environmental cues. The most commonly used technique for TBF estimation is based on accelerometers. This paper proposes a novel approach using bioimpedance technology. This is the first time bioimpedance has been measured in a freely moving animal. This was made possible by implanting a flexible electrode in the back muscle of seabasses and having them in a swimming tunnel. The experiment first demonstrates that it is possible to measure bioimpedance in an immersed fish despite the high conductivity of seawater. An agreement analysis was then performed to compare a video-based reference measurement of TBF with the newly proposed approach. Several bioimpedance settings, such as the configuration and the extracted electrical parameters, were considered. Data analysis highlights that a 4-point setup for modulus impedance measurement at frequencies over 10 kHz provides the best agreement (r > 0.98 and CCC > 0.97) with the video-based approach. These results attest to the significant benefits of integrating bioimpedance sensors in biologgers, especially considering the complementary parameters that can be extracted from bioimpedance measurements, such as length, weight, condition index, and fat content.

A continuum soft robotic trout with embedded HASEL actuators: design, fabrication, and swimming kinematics

A continuum soft robotic trout with embedded HASEL actuators: design, fabrication, and swimming kinematics

Field kinematics of intermittent swimming in bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus)—pelagic locomotion and littoral maneuverability

Abstract Objectives Locomotion is essential for the survival of animals. Fishes have evolved mechanisms to minimize the cost of transport. For example, Bluegill Sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) employ intermittent swimming, which involves swimming at relatively slow speeds with short propulsive bursts alternating with gliding episodes. This typically involves axial undulation powered by slow-twitch muscle, either with or without pectoral fin usage. The propulsive bursts are at higher tailbeat frequencies than observed for a given average speed with constant propulsion, and muscle physiology experiments show that the propulsive bursts produce relatively high power, while the glide reduces fatigue relative to continuous activity. However, Bluegill encounter complex 3D in-shore habitats, in which an intermittent swimming gait may enable successful capture of habitat-specific prey. Methods Field observations of Bluegill Sunfish were made via underwater videography in Lake Waban, Massachusetts. Key Findings In both pelagic and littoral habitats, Bluegill employed intermittent swimming. This provided the maneuverability and muscle activity needed to capture prey items suspended in the water column and enabled effective prey detection and maneuverability for feeding on sessile invertebrates in dense vegetation. Radio telemetry studies demonstrated that bluegill moved regularly between the pelagic and the littoral. Conclusion In both zones, intermittent swimming may provide both energetic and foraging advantages.

Effects of Ammonia Concentration on Sperm Vitality, Motility Rates, and Morphology in Three Marine Bivalve Species: A Comparative Study of the Noble Scallop Mimachlamys nobilis, Chinese Pearl Oyster Pinctada fucata martensii, and Small Rock Oyster Saccostrea mordax.

Ammonium (NH4+) plays a crucial role in the reproductive processes of key biotic groups in aquatic ecosystems-bivalves. This study aims to elucidate the effects of three different ammonium ion concentrations on sperm vitality, swimming kinematics, and morphology of Mimachlamys nobilis, Pinctada fucata martensii, and Saccostrea mordax. The results indicate that the sperm vitality and motility rates of M.nobilis and S. mordax are inversely proportional to the ammonium concentration, especially in the treatment group with an ammonium concentration of 3 mmol/L, where the decrease in sperm vitality and motility is most significant. In contrast, the sperm of P. fucata martensii reacted differently to increasing ammonium concentrations. After the addition of 2 mmol/L of ammonium, the sperm vitality and motility of P. fucata martensii reached a peak, showing a significant stimulatory effect. Additionally, as the ammonium concentration increased, the curling of the sperm flagella in M.nobilis and S. mordax increased. However, sperm flagella curling in P. fucata martensii showed no change compared to the control group. This study provides insights into the effects of ammonium concentrations on the sperm vitality and motility of three marine bivalve species and highlights the importance of sperm flagella curling as a factor affecting sperm.

Body length determines flow refuging for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) behind wing dams.

Complex hydrodynamics abound in natural streams, yet the selective pressures these impose upon different size classes of fish are not well understood. Attached vortices are produced by relatively large objects that block freestream flow, which fish routinely utilize for flow refuging. To test how flow refuging and the potential harvesting of energy (as seen in Kármán gaiting) vary across size classes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss; fingerling, 8 cm; parr, 14 cm; adult, 22 cm; n=4 per size class), we used a water flume (4100 l; freestream flow at 65 cm s-1) and created vortices using 45deg wing dams of varying size (small, 15 cm; medium, 31 cm; large, 48 cm). We monitored microhabitat selection and swimming kinematics of individual trout and measured the flow field in the wake of wing dams using time-resolved particle image velocimetry (PIV). Trout of each size class preferentially swam in vortices rather than the freestream, but the capacity to flow refuge varied according to the ratio of vortex width to fish length (WV:LF). Consistent refuging behavior was exhibited when WV:LF≥1.5. All size classes exhibited increased wavelength and Strouhal number and decreased tailbeat frequency within vortices compared with freestream, suggesting that swimming in vortices requires less power output. In 17% of the trials, fish preferentially swam in a manner that suggests energy harvesting from the shear layer. Our results can inform efforts toward riparian restoration and fishway design to improve salmonid conservation.

Energetics and Basic Stroke Kinematics of Swimming With Different Styles of Wetsuits.

Lim, B, Villalobos, A, Mercer, JA, and Crocker, GH. Energetics and basic stroke kinematics of swimming with different styles of wetsuits. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2024-This study investigated the physiological responses and basic stroke kinematics while wearing different styles of wetsuits during submaximal intensity front-crawl swimming. Fourteen subjects (6 men and 8 women) completed a swimming-graded exercise test to determine maximal aerobic capacity (V̇O2max) and four 4-minute submaximal front-crawl swims at a pace that elicited 80% of V̇O2max with different wetsuits: regular swimsuit (no wetsuit [NWS]), buoyancy shorts (BS), sleeveless wetsuit (SLW), and full-sleeve wetsuit (FSW). The rate of oxygen consumption (V̇O2), rate of carbon dioxide production (V̇CO2), minute ventilation (V̇E), heart rate (HR), respiratory exchange ratio, and cost of swimming (CS) were determined as the average for the last minute of each trial. The rating of perceived exertion was assessed after each swimming bout. In addition, stroke length and index were determined from swimming pace and stroke rate. V̇O2, V̇CO2, V̇E, HR, and CS differed significantly among wetsuit conditions (p < 0.01). Respiratory exchange ratio and rating of perceived exertion also varied by wetsuit conditions (p < 0.05). However, stroke rate, length, and index were not significantly different across wetsuit conditions (p > 0.05). No differences existed between SLW and FSW for any dependent variable (p > 0.05). Results from this study suggest that swimming at the same pace without a wetsuit is the least economical, and both SLW and FSW are most and equally economical without significant kinematic changes. In addition, BS could be beneficial during training and racing in terms of less physiological demands than a regular swimsuit but not as economical as the SLW or FSW.

Which Strength Manifestation Is More Related to Regional Swimmers' Performance and In-Water Forces? Maximal Neuromuscular Capacities Versus Maximal Mechanical Maintenance Capacity.

To explore the association of the load-velocity (L-V) relationship variables and ability to maintain maximal mechanical performance during the prone bench-pull exercise with sprint swimming performance and in-water forces. Eleven competitive adult male swimmers (50-m front crawl World Aquatics points: 488 [66], performance level 4) performed 1 experimental session. The L-V relationship variables (L0[ie, maximal theoretical load at 0 velocity]; v0 [ie, maximal theoretical velocity at 0 load], and Aline [ie, area under the L-V relationship]) and maximal mechanical maintenance capacity were assessed at the beginning of the session. Afterward, sprint swimming performance and in-water force production were tested through a 50-m front-crawl all-out trial and 15-s fully-tethered swimming, respectively. Only v0 presented high positive associations with 50-m time and swimming kinematics (r > .532; P < .046). The L0, v0,and Aline showed very high positive associations with the in-water forces during tethered swimming (r > .523; P < .049). However, the ability to maintain maximal mechanical performance, assessed by the mean velocity decline during the prone bench pull, was only significantly correlated with stroke rate (r = -.647; P = .016) and stroke index (r = .614; P = .022). These findings indicate that maximal neuromuscular capacities, especially v0, have a stronger correlation with swimming performance and in-water force production than the ability to maintain maximal mechanical performance in level 4 swimmers.

The Effects of Eccentric Training on Undulatory Underwater Swimming Performance and Kinematics in Competitive Swimmers.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a five-week training program on undulatory underwater swimming (UUS) in swimmers and to compare the specific effects prompted by two different training protocols on UUS performance and kinematics. Swimmers (n = 14) were divided into in-water only (WO) (18.61 ± 2.62 years, FINA points: 507 ± 60) and water + dry-land training groups (with conical pulleys) (WD) (18.38 ± 2.67 years, FINA points: 508 ± 83). Three countermovement jumps (CMJ) and three maximal UUS trials were performed before and after a five-week training period. The training program comprised 14 × 30-min sessions. The WO group repeated the same 15-min block twice, while the WD group performed one block of 15 min in the water and the other block on land performing lower limb exercises with conical pulleys. Seven body landmarks were auto-digitalized during UUS by a pre-trained neural network and 21 kinematic variables were calculated. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Significant time × group interaction in favour of the WD group was observed for mean vertical toe velocity (p = 0.035, = 0.32). The WD group experienced enhancements in mean and maximum underwater velocity, kick frequency, maximum shoulder angular velocity, as well as mean and maximum vertical toe velocity (p < 0.05). The WO group exhibited an enhancement in CMJ height (p < 0.05). In conclusion, UUS performance was improved in adolescent swimmers after five weeks of specific training, only when combining water and conical pulley exercises. Coaches should include dry-land specific lower limb exercises in addition to in-water training to improve UUS performance.

Fish passage solution: European eel kinematics and behaviour in shear layer turbulent flows

High velocity barriers pose a risk to upstream migrating European eels (Anguilla anguilla, Linnaeus) as the flow can be too fast for them to swim against. These barriers delay or even prevent migration, potentially exacerbating population declines of this critically endangered species. Eel tiles are an emerging solution for this application, already successfully deployed to increase passage at gravity barriers. Here, eel tiles mounted to the bed of an open channel recirculating flume were assessed in terms of eel passage, behaviour and kinematics relative to movement in the absence of the tiles. The tiles effectively increased passage and allowed the eels to rest without the need to swim back downstream. The tiles also reduced the amount of energy needed to travel upstream. For the first time eel swimming was examined in a flow with multiple shear layers and turbulent structures of varying lengthscale. Swimming kinematics were analysed for complex turbulent flows and revealed a new swimming gait in the shear layer beside the tile. By allowing the eels to continuously move upstream, the tiles potentially decrease predation and infection risk at resting hotspots. Overall, the tiles were effective in helping eels pass upstream in an experimental flume.

Design and kinematic analysis of a rope-driven linkage frog-like swimming robot with multidirectional controllable motion

In this paper, a rope-driven linkage frog swimming robot is constructed in accordance with the delicate structure of the frog swimming mode. First, a rope-driven linkage limb propulsion mechanism is proposed. This mechanism not only enables the robot to achieve the superior motion characteristics and mechanical performance of the four limbs of a frog swimming in water but also makes the limb structures more flexible and lightweight. Using the D-H parametric method with geometric relations, the swimming kinematic model of this robotic limb propulsion mechanism is established, and the stability margin and recovery moment equations are derived. Second, based on the above mathematical model, the motion space and stability analysis of the robot limb ends are simulated by MATLAB software. Finally, an experimental prototype with a size of 18 cm in length × 7 cm in width × 7 cm in height, combined with a control system, is developed. The experimental result verifies the rationality and correctness of the robot's structural design, theoretical derivation and control system and proves that it has superior motion capability with a straight-line swimming speed of 0.54 m/s, a horizontal surface turning speed of 100°/s (turning radius of approximately 0.18 m), and an upwards and downwards submerged swimming speed of 9 cm/s during a single swim in the water.

Estimating the pressure force around swimming plankton using micro particle image velocimetry

Obtaining pressure force for freely swimming microorganisms is a challenging yet important problem. Here, we report the swimming kinematics and dynamics of the zooplankton Acartia tonsa nauplius investigated using Micro Particle Image Velocimetry (µPIV). Using rigid object tracking, we obtain sub-pixel accurate localization of freely swimming A. tonsa, revealing its highly periodic locomotion. We exploit this periodicity to obtain phase-locked averaged kinematics for position, speed, and acceleration. The swimming speed profile of A. tonsa has a distinct double peak, due to its two power strokes. Next, we investigate the flow field around swimming A. tonsa using µPIV. We dynamically mask A. tonsa in µPIV images using an object-fixed coordinate transformation, leveraging the sub-pixel accurate localization. Our analysis shows of a pair of attached vortices during the two power strokes, which are pushed away during the recovery stroke. Finally, using a semi-implicit pressure velocity algorithm, we calculate the pressure force from the time-dependent flow fields. These calculations indicate a low-pressure region ahead of the A. tonsa during the peak of the power strokes. The vertical pressure force correlates well with the vertical swimming speed.

Oxygen uptake kinetics and biological age in relation to pulling force and 400-m front crawl performance in young swimmers.

Background: The study aimed to assess differences in the biological age (BA) of 13-year-old swimmers and show their ability, as biologically younger-late mature or older-early mature, to develop fast 60-s oxygen uptake () kinetics and tethered swimming strength. Furthermore, the interplay between swimming strength, , and 400-m front crawl race performance was examined. Methods: The study involved 36 competitive young male swimmers (metrical age: 12.9 ± 0.56years). Depending on BA examination, the group was divided into early-mature (BA: 15.8 ± 1.18years, n = 13) and late-mature (BA: 12.9 ± 0.60 years, n = 23) participants, especially for the purpose of comparing tethered swimming indices, i.e., average values of force (F ave) and (breath-by-breath analysis) kinetic indices, measured simultaneously in 1-min tethered front crawl swimming. From the 400-m racing stroke rate, stroke length kinematics was retrieved. Results: In the 1-min tethered front crawl test, early-mature swimmers obtained higher results of absolute values of and F ave. Conversely, when was present relatively to body mass and pulling force (in ml∙min-1∙kg-1∙N-1), late-mature swimmers showed higher relative usage. Late-mature swimmers generally exhibited a slower increase in during the first 30s of 60s. , F ave, BA, and basic swimming kinematic stroke length were significantly interrelated and influenced 400-m swimming performance. Conclusion: The 1-min tethered swimming test revealed significant differences in the homogeneous calendar age/heterogeneous BA group of swimmers. These were distinguished by the higher level of kinetics and pulling force in early-mature individuals and lower efficiency per unit of body mass per unit of force aerobic system in late-mature peers. The higher kinetics and tethered swimming force were further translated into 400-m front crawl speed and stroke length kinematics.

A systematic investigation into the effect of roughness on self-propelled swimming plates

This study examines the effects of surface topography on the flow and performance of a self-propelled swimming (SPS) body. We consider a thin flat plate with an egg-carton roughness texture undergoing prescribed undulatory swimming kinematics at Strouhal number $0.3$ and tail amplitude to length ratio $0.1$ ; we use plate Reynolds numbers $Re=6$ , 12 and $24\times 10^3$ , and focus on $12\,000$ . As the roughness wavelength is decreased, we find that the undulation wave speed must be increased to overcome the additional drag from the roughness and maintain SPS. Correspondingly, the extra wave speed raises the power required to maintain SPS, making the swimmer less efficient. To decouple the roughness and the kinematics, we compare the rough plates to equivalent smooth cases by matching the kinematic conditions. We find that all but the longest roughness wavelengths reduce the required swimming power and the unsteady amplitude of the forces when compared to a smooth plate undergoing identical kinematics. Additionally, roughness can enhance flow enstrophy by up to 116 % compared to the smooth cases without a corresponding spike in forces; this suggests that the increased mixing is not due to increased vorticity production at the wall. Instead, the enstrophy is found to peak strongly when the roughness wavelength is approximately twice the boundary layer thickness over the $Re$ range, indicating the roughness induces large-scale secondary flow structures that extend to the edge of the boundary layer. This study reveals the nonlinear interaction between roughness and kinematics beyond a simple increase or decrease in drag, illustrating that roughness studies on static shapes do not transfer directly to unsteady swimmers.

Dynamics of rigid achiral magnetic microswimmers in shear-thinning fluids

Here, we use magnetically driven self-assembled achiral swimmers made of two to four superparamagnetic micro-particles to provide insight into how swimming kinematics develop in complex, shear-thinning fluids. Two model shear-thinning polymer fluids are explored, where measurements of swimming dynamics reveal contrasting propulsion kinematics in shear-thinning fluids vs a Newtonian fluid. When comparing the velocity of achiral swimmers in polymer fluids to their dynamics in water, we observe kinematics dependent on (1) no shear-thinning, (2) shear-thinning with negligible elasticity, and (3) shear-thinning with elasticity. At the step-out frequency, the fluidic environment's viscoelastic properties allow swimmers to propel faster than their Newtonian swimming speed, although their swimming gait remains similar. Micro-particle image velocimetry is also implemented to provide insight into how shear-thinning viscosity fluids with elasticity can modify the flow fields of the self-assembled magnetic swimmers. Our findings reveal that flow asymmetry can be created for symmetric swimmers through either the confinement effect or the Weissenberg effect. For pseudo-chiral swimmers in shear-thinning fluids, only three bead swimmers show swimming enhancement, while four bead swimmers always have a decreased step-out frequency velocity compared to their dynamics in water.

On the influence of head motion on the swimming kinematics of robotic fish.

Up to now bio-inspired fish-mimicking robots fail when competing with the swimming performance of real fish. While tail motion has been studied extensively, the influence of the head motion is still not fully understood and its active control is challenging. In this experimental study, we show that head yawing strongly impacts on the propulsion force and determines the optimal fin actuation amplitude and tail beat frequency when aiming for a maximal propulsion force. In a parametric experimental study on a tethered 367 mm long fish robot the pivot point location of the head yaw has been varied along with tail beat frequency and actuation amplitude. The experiments took place in a still water tank and the swimming force has been measured with a single axis load cell. The robot is actuated with non-conventional area actuators based on micro fiber composites. 105 parameter sets have been investigated while the highest pivot point distance of roughly 0.36 body length from the nose tip provided the highest propulsion force of 500 mN with the lowest actuation frequency of 2.5 Hz and the highest head motion amplitude of a magnitude of 0.18 body length. Even though the pivot point location on a free swimming robot is a consequence of the complex fluid-structure interactions of fish and fluid, the results provide valuable information for the design of fish mimicking robots and questions the paradigm that head yaw is a simple recoil effect from tail motion and has to be minimized for an effective propulsion.

Multi-Body Hydrodynamic Interactions in Fish-Like Swimming

Abstract Many animals in nature travel in groups either for protection, survival, or endurance. Among these, certain species do so under the burden of aero/hydrodynamic loads, which incites questions as to the significance of the multibody fluid-mediated interactions that are inherent to collective flying/swimming. Prime examples of such creatures are fish, which are commonly seen traveling in highly organized groups of large numbers. Indeed, over the years, there have been numerous attempts to examine hydrodynamic interactions among self-propelled fish-like swimmers. Though many have studied this phenomenon, their motivations have varied from understanding animal behavior to extracting universal fluid dynamical principles and transplanting them into engineering applications. The approaches utilized to carry out these investigations include theoretical and computational analyses, field observations, and experiments using various abstractions of biological fish. Here, we compile representative investigations focused on the collective hydrodynamics of fish-like swimmers. The selected body of works are reviewed in the context of their methodologies and findings, so as to draw parallels, contrast differences, and highlight open questions. Overall, the results of the surveyed studies provide foundational insights into the conditions (such as the relative positioning and synchronization between the members, as well as their swimming kinematics and speed) under which hydrodynamic interactions can lead to efficiency gains and/or group cohesion in two- and three-dimensional scenarios. They also shed some light on the mechanisms responsible for such energetic and stability enhancements in the context of wake-body, wake-wake, and body-body interactions.

Generating high-efficiency swimming kinematics using hydrodynamic eigenmode decomposition

This paper explores the use of hydrodynamic eigenmode decomposition as a means of generating optimal swimming kinematics of slender three-dimensional bodies. The eigenvectors of the unsteady hydrodynamic system are used as basis functions for the response to external forcing, such as perturbations generated by the deformation of the body. Exploiting the orthogonality of the modes, we show that swimming according to a single appropriately selected hydrodynamic eigenmode results in high-efficiency swimming. To demonstrate this result, we use an inviscid three-dimensional vortex lattice model to investigate the hydrodynamic eigenmodes of a selection of geometries. We find that for all of the body geometries tested, hydrodynamic efficiency far exceeding that of pure heaving or pitching can be achieved. All eigenmodes tested produce high-efficiency motion, as long as the beat frequency is higher than the mode's “cut-in” frequency for thrust generation. The eigenmodes show qualitative similarity to swimming patterns observed in nature and also correspond well to the existing classifications of undulatory and oscillatory swimming. This study demonstrates that the hydrodynamic eigenmode analysis can generate high-efficiency swimming kinematics based only on information about the body and wake geometry, and as such, this method has significant potential for further development and application to autonomous underwater vehicle design.

Thrust generation and propulsive efficiency in dolphin-like swimming propulsion

Given growing interest in emulating dolphin morphology and kinematics to design high-performance underwater vehicles, the current research effort is dedicated to studying the hydrodynamics of dolphin-like oscillatory kinematics in forward propulsion. A computational fluid dynamics method is used. A realistic three-dimentional surface model of a dolphin is made with swimming kinematics reconstructed from video recording. The oscillation of the dolphin is found to enhance the attachment of the boundary layer to the posterior body, which then leads to body drag reduction. The flapping motion of the flukes is found to generate high thrust forces in both the downstroke and the upstroke, during which vortex rings are shed to produce strong thrust jets. The downstroke jets are found to be on average stronger than the upstroke jet, which then leads to net positive lift production. The flexion of the peduncle and flukes is found to be a crucial feature of dolphin-like swimming kinematics. Dolphin-inspired swimming kinematics were created by varying the flexion angle of the peduncle and flukes, which then resulted in significant performance variation. The thrust benefits and propulsive efficiency benefits are associated with a slight decrease and slight increase of the flexion of the peduncle and flukes, respectively.

Direct measurement of cruising and burst swimming speeds of the shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) with estimates of field metabolic rate.

The shortfin mako shark is a large-bodied pursuit predator thought to be capable of the highest swimming speeds of any elasmobranch and potentially one of the highest energetic demands of any marine fish. Nonetheless, few direct speed measurements have been reported for this species. Here, animal-borne bio-loggers attached to two mako sharks were used to provide direct measurements of swimming speeds, kinematics and thermal physiology. Mean sustained (cruising) speed was 0.90 m s-1 (±0.07 s.d.) with a mean tail-beat frequency (TBF) of 0.51 Hz (±0.16 s.d.). The maximum burst speed recorded was 5.02 m s-1 (TBFmax = 3.65 Hz) from a 2 m long female. Burst swimming was sustained for 14 s (mean speed = 2.38 m s-1 ), leading to a 0.24°C increase in white muscle temperature in the 12.5 min after the burst. Routine field metabolic rate was estimated at 185.2 mg O2 kg-1 h-1 (at 18°C ambient temperature). Gliding behaviour (zero TBF) was more frequently observed after periods of high activity, especially after capture when internal (white muscle) temperature approached 21°C (ambient temperature: 18.3°C), indicating gliding probably functions as an energy recovery mechanism and limits further metabolic heat production. The results show shortfin mako sharks generally cruise at speeds similar to other endothermic fish - but faster than ectothermic sharks - with the maximum recorded burst speed being among the highest so far directly measured among sharks, tunas and billfishes. This newly recorded high-oxygen-demand performance of mako sharks suggests it may be particularly vulnerable to habitat loss due to climate-driven ocean deoxygenation.

The effect of temperature and acute hypoxia/hyperoxia exposure on swimming performance and kinematics of Freshwater Drum

AbstractObjectiveAltered temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) regimes in the tailwaters below dams can cause stress to fish. Despite their widespread distribution in rivers across North America, Freshwater Drum Aplodinotus grunniens have received little attention relative to the effects of these potential stressors. Quantifying fish swimming performance and kinematics in simulated tailwater conditions can help to determine how riverine species are affected by dam water releases, with the ultimate goal of identifying improved management strategies for these systems.MethodsWe quantified Freshwater Drum swimming performance and kinematics by measuring critical swimming speed (in both relative [RUcrit; body lengths/s] and absolute [AUcrit; cm/s] units), tailbeat frequency, tailbeat amplitude, and Strouhal's number under all combinations of low‐DO (4 mg/L), normoxic (9 mg/L), and high‐DO (14 mg/L) conditions at low (10°C), intermediate (20°C), and warm (30°C) water temperatures using both 90‐ and 850‐L swim flumes.ResultDissolved oxygen at these concentrations did not affect swimming performance. The effect of temperature on swimming performance depended on fish size; RUcrit, AUcrit, and tailbeat frequency decreased with fish length but increased with temperature. In contrast, tailbeat amplitude increased with fish length but did not differ across temperatures.ConclusionThese results suggest that acute low‐ and high‐DO exposure within the tested range may not affect swimming performance or kinematics. However, the influence of temperature on Freshwater Drum swimming performance suggests that the ability of fish to hold position in a tailrace or to successfully pass upstream of a dam may vary seasonally and may depend on the depth from which water is released from a reservoir, as release depth determines the water temperature.