Oxygen consumption of the estuarine round herring Gilchristella aestuarius (Gilchrist & Thompson)

Abstract

Routine oxygen consumption of Gilchristella aestuarius was determined using a through-flow system. The exponent b and the coefficient a in the relationship R = M ^b, where R is the metabolic rate and M is the body mass, were determined for fish ranging from 0,06 to 1,40 g. Experiments were carried out on summer and winter acclimatized fish. The effects of three acclimation temperatures (15, 20 and 25°C) and three salinities 10, 20 and 35°/oo) were investigated. The results indicate that the mean b value was 0,77 and that the metabolic rate was salinity independent but increased with increasing temperature with a Qio of 2,3. Oxygen consumption over 24 h showed a peak at 08h00 and 15h00 which coincided with feeding peaks found elsewhere.