The effect of progressive hypoxia on swimming mode and oxygen consumption in the pile perch, Phanerodon vacca
Authors: Frank LC, Prescott LA, Scott ME, Domenici P, Johansen JL, Steffensen JF
Journal: Front. Fish Sci
DOI: 10.3389/frish.2024.1289848
Abstract:
Hypoxia, an increasingly common stressor in coastal environments, lowers the scope for aerobic activity such as sustained swimming. This study examines the effect of self-depleting progressive hypoxia on swimming performance and oxygen consumption of the pile perch, Phanerodon vacca, at their optimal speed (Uopt =29 cm·s−1). P. vacca is a labriform, median-paired fin (MPF) swimmer that exhibits a clear gait transition from primarily oxidative muscle-powered, pectoral fin swimming to primarily anaerobic-powered muscle burst swimming using the caudal fin (BCF) when facing high speeds or low oxygen.
Keywords: respirometry, hypoxia, oxygen debt, optimal speed, critical oxygen tension, fish swimming
