The oxygen consumption of four Pomatoschistus species (Pisces, Gobiidae) in relation to water temperature
In: Netherlands Journal of Sea Research. Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ): Groningen; Den Burg. ISSN 0077-7579; e-ISSN 1873-1406, more
Also appears in:De Blok, J.W.; Dorrestein, R.; Nienhuis, P.H.; Postma, H.; Weber, R.E. (Ed.) (1973). 7th European Symposium on Marine Biology, Texel, 11-16 September 1972. European Marine Biology Symposia, 7. Netherlands Journal of Sea Research, 7. 505 pp., more
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Keywords |
Oxygen consumption Properties > Water properties > Temperature > Water temperature Pomatoschistus lozanoi (de Buen, 1923) [WoRMS]; Pomatoschistus microps (Krøyer, 1838) [WoRMS]; Pomatoschistus minutus (Pallas, 1770) [WoRMS]; Pomatoschistus pictus (Malm, 1865) [WoRMS] Marine/Coastal |
Abstract |
Oxygen consumption of 4 Pomatoschistus species in relation to temperature was measured for resting fish and during forced swimming, and the presence or absence of food. Pomatoschistus microps showed a superior swimming performance and the highest respiratory scope for activity. P. lozanoi, the poorest swimmer showed the lowest scope for activity. Respiratory maintenance costs (respiration at rest as percentage of respiration at forced swimming) increased with temperature in all 4 species, but more pronounced in P. minutes and P. pictus. The relatively low and stable maintenance costs observed in P. microps are probably related to adaptation of this species to the large temperature fluctuations in shallow inshore waters. However, measurements of respiratory rate or other physiological responses to abiotic factors can only partly help to understand the adaptation of estuarine species to their environment. Food requirements and competition are equally important, or even more so. |
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