The effects of caudal fin loss and regeneration on the swimming performance of three cyprinid fish with different swimming capacities

Abstract

SUMMARYIn nature, the caudal fins of fish species are frequently lost to some extent by aggressive behaviour, predation and diseases. To test whether the swimming performance of fish with different swimming capacities would be differentially affected due to caudal fin loss and regeneration, we investigated the critical swimming speed (U crit ), swimming metabolic rate (M O2 ), tail beat frequency (f TB ) and tail beat amplitude (A TB ) after caudal fin loss and regeneration (20days) in juveniles of three cyprinid fish species: the qingbo (Spinibarbus sinensis; strong swimmer), the common carp (Cyprinus carpio; intermediate swimmer) and the goldfish (Carassius auratus; poor swimmer). The U crit values of the caudal-fin-lost qingbo, common carp and goldfish were 49, 32 and 35% significantly lower than those of the control groups, respectively. The maximum tail beat amplitude (A TBmax ) (all three fishes), the maximum tail beat frequency (f TBmax ) (only the common carp and the goldfish) and/or the active metabolic rate (M O2active ) (only the common carp) of the caudal-fin-lost fish were significantly higher than those of the control groups. After 20days of recovery, the caudal fins recovered to 41, 47 and 24% of those of the control groups for the qingbo, the common carp and the goldfish, respectively. However, the U crit values of the fin-regenerated qingbo, common carp and goldfish recovered to 86, 91 and 95% of those of the control group, respectively. The caudal-fin-regenerated qingbo and common carp showed a significantly higher A TBmax and f TBmax , respectively, compared with those of the control groups. The qingbo had a higher f TBmax but a lower A TBmax than the common carp and the goldfish, which suggested that a strong swimmer may maintain swimming speed primarily by maintaining a greater f TBmax , for which the caudal fin plays a more important role during swimming, than a poor swimmer. The M O2active of fish (common carp) with a redundant respiratory capacity could increase due to caudal fin loss to meet the increase in energy expenditure required by an increase in f TBmax . In addition, the sustained swimming performance may not be the only selective pressure acting on caudal fin size in these three species, and the present caudal fin size may be a trade-off between sustain swimming performance and other factors (e.g. sexual selection, escape responses). Supplementary material available online at

Effect of tail fin loss on swimming capability and tail beat frequency of juvenile black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus

“…In the present study, tail fin loss had little effect on the TBF max of black carp (Fig. 5), consistent with the findings for the cyprinid Spinibarbus sinensis (Fu et al 2013) and contrary to the results for common carp Cyprinus carpio and goldfish Carassius auratus, for which TBF max increased significantly with tail fin loss (Fu et al 2013).…”

“…The tail fin is important to fish swimming capability (Hunter & Zweifel 1971, Webb 1975, Beamish 1978. Fin loss reduces swimming capability (Plaut 2001), but the reduction varies significantly among species (Fu et al 2013). U crit , a measure of prolonged swimming capability, can be attained primarily by aerobic metabolism (Brett 1964, Milligan 1996.…”

Welfare Challenges Influence the Complexity of Movement: Fractal Analysis of Behaviour in Zebrafish

“…Tail or caudal fin clipping does have the potential to impede swimming ability when tested in other species [71,72]. Comparisons between wild type and no-tail zebrafish indicated the absence of a caudal fin could result in a 65% reduction in critical swimming performance [73].…”

Exposure to a PBDE/OH‐BDE mixture alters juvenile zebrafish (Danio rerio) development

“…The lateral aspects of Alcian blue‐ and Alizarin red‐stained individuals were digitally photographed (Nikon Eclipse E600; Nikon DXM1200; NIS‐Elements 3.20.01). Images (1 image per fish, n = 15/treatment) were analyzed using ImageJ for standard length measurements, caudal fin area , and stain quantification.…”