Oxygen consumption, ammonia excretion and protein use in response to thermal changes in juvenile Atlantic salmon Salmo salar

Abstract

Experiments were designed to examine the effects of various temperature challenges on oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion rates and protein utilization in juvenile Atlantic salmon Salmo salar. Fish acclimated to 15 degrees C were acutely and abruptly exposed to either 20 or 25 degrees C for a period of 3 h. To simulate a more environmentally relevant temperature challenge, a third group of fish was exposed to a gradual increase in temperature from 15 to 20 degrees C over a period of 3 h (c. 1.7 degrees C h(-1)). Oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion rates were monitored before, during and after the temperature shift. From the ammonia excretion and oxygen consumption rates, protein utilization rates were calculated. Acute temperature changes (15-20 degrees C or 15-25 degrees C) caused large and immediate increases in the oxygen consumption rates. When the temperature was gradually changed (i.e. 1.7 degrees C h(-1)), however, the rates of oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion were only marginally altered. When fish were exposed to warmer temperatures (i.e. 15-20 degrees C or 15-25 degrees C) protein use generally remained at pre-exposure (15 degrees C) levels. A rapid transfer back to 15 degrees C (20-15 degrees C or 25-15 degrees C) generally increased protein use in S. salar. These results indicate that both the magnitude and the rate of temperature change are important in describing the physiological response in juvenile salmonids.

Fine‐scale movements and habitat use of juvenile southern flounder Paralichthys lethostigma in an estuarine seascape

“…Variability in temperature in Christmas Bay may be mediated by water depth, with deeper areas experiencing smaller ranges on a diel basis. Temperature dataloggers placed in deeper locations exhibited diel variations in water temperature <2·5° C, while those in the shallowest parts of the array ranged from 4·0 to 6·0° C. Reduced exposure to variations in physicochemical conditions such as temperature may reduce metabolic and physiological costs (Kieffer & Wakefield, ). Tides also introduce environmental variability, altering depths of estuarine systems on a cyclical scale and potentially impacting fish movements (Sakabe & Lyle, ).…”

Critical thermal maximum (CTmax) and hematology of shortnose sturgeons (Acipenser brevirostrum) acclimated to three temperatures

“…Recently, Kieffer and Wakefield (2009) found that the magnitude of temperature change is important in describing the physiological response experienced in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.,1758). Thermal acclimation of fish results in physiological responses to compensate for the effects of ambient temperature changes.…”

Native rainbow smelt and nonnative alewife distribution related to temperature and light gradients in Lake Champlain

“…In stratified northtemperate lakes, water temperatures are likely to change by 10 to 20°C through the thermocline. Rapid changes in fish body temperature stress metabolic, endocrine, and other physiological systems and fish may therefore avoid areas with large magnitude temperature changes during diel vertical migrations or other movements (Donaldson et al, 2008;Kieffer and Wakefield, 2009).…”