BackgroundZebrafish has been largely accepted as a vertebrate multidisciplinary model but its usefulness as a model for exercise physiology has been hampered by the scarce knowledge on its swimming economy, optimal swimming speeds and cost of transport. Therefore, we have performed individual and group-wise swimming experiments to quantify swimming economy and to demonstrate the exercise effects on growth in adult zebrafish.Methodology/Principal FindingsIndividual zebrafish (n = 10) were able to swim at a critical swimming speed (Ucrit) of 0.548±0.007 m s−1 or 18.0 standard body lengths (BL) s−1. The optimal swimming speed (Uopt) at which energetic efficiency is highest was 0.396±0.019 m s−1 (13.0 BL s−1) corresponding to 72.26±0.29% of Ucrit. The cost of transport at optimal swimming speed (COTopt) was 25.23±4.03 µmol g−1 m−1. A group-wise experiment was conducted with zebrafish (n = 83) swimming at Uopt for 6 h day−1 for 5 days week−1 for 4 weeks vs. zebrafish (n = 84) that rested during this period. Swimming zebrafish increased their total body length by 5.6% and body weight by 41.1% as compared to resting fish. For the first time, a highly significant exercise-induced growth is demonstrated in adult zebrafish. Expression analysis of a set of muscle growth marker genes revealed clear regulatory roles in relation to swimming-enhanced growth for genes such as growth hormone receptor b (ghrb), insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor a (igf1ra), troponin C (stnnc), slow myosin heavy chain 1 (smyhc1), troponin I2 (tnni2), myosin heavy polypeptide 2 (myhz2) and myostatin (mstnb).Conclusions/SignificanceFrom the results of our study we can conclude that zebrafish can be used as an exercise model for enhanced growth, with implications in basic, biomedical and applied sciences, such as aquaculture.

–  Migrating fish species with different swimming capacities and energy use show different capacities for passing obstacles between habitats, such as culverts and fish ladders. Here, we present an integrated study on swimming capacity and energetic use in seven European freshwater fish species with different ranges of migration (brown trout Salmo trutta L., European perch Perca fluviatilis L., roach Rutilus rutilus L., common carp Cyprinus carpio L., gudgeon Gobio gobio L., bullhead Cottus gobio L. and stone loach Barbatula barbatula L.). Critical (Ucrit), optimal (Uopt) and maximum (Umax) swimming speed and oxygen consumption (MO2) were analysed and showed values correlated to migration capacity with highest swimming capacities in trout and roach and lowest in stone loach and bullhead. The resulting data can be used to make estimates of maximum passable water speeds in culverts. In conclusion, long‐distance migrators show higher swimming capacities and can potentially clear obstacles easier than short distance migrators with lower swimming capacities. Even small obstacles (<25 cm) could be a barrier for genetic exchange between populations in short‐distance migrators.

SUMMARYMembers of the family Embiotocidae exhibit a distinct gait transition from exclusively pectoral fin oscillation to combined pectoral and caudal fin propulsion with increasing swimming speed. The pectoral-caudal gait transition occurs at a threshold speed termed U p-c . The objective of this study was to partition aerobic and anaerobic swimming costs at speeds below and above the U p-c in the striped surfperch Embiotoca lateralis using swimming respirometry and video analysis to test the hypothesis that the gait transition marks the switch from aerobic to anaerobic power output. Exercise oxygen consumption rate was measured at 1.4, 1.9 and 2.3Ls , E. lateralis switched to an unsteady burst and flap gait. This swimming speed resulted in EPOC, suggesting that anaerobic metabolism constituted 25% of the total costs. Burst activity correlated positively with the magnitude of the EPOC. Collectively, these data indicate that steady axial propulsion does not lead to EPOC whereas transition to burst-assisted swimming above U p-c is associated with anaerobic metabolism in this labriform swimmer.

Carp Cyprinus carpio altered the repertoire of swimming behaviour with increased flume length. While the transition speed from steady to burst-coast swimming was unaffected by flume length, fish reached higher critical swimming speed (U crit ), consequently swimming for longer periods of time in burst-coast mode and hence performing more work before becoming fatigued. Analysis of swimming behaviour of burst-coast swimming revealed an increase in duration and a decrease in distance of forward burst movements with increasing water speeds. Frequency was unaffected by water speed. Overall, longer flumes increased U crit by allowing for less restricted burst-coast swimming behaviour.