Wave-Induced Stress And Its Effects On Coral Reef Fish Swimming Performance And Energetics
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Authors
Marcoux, Travis M.
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Marine Science
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Abstract
Using a novel wave-simulating apparatus, the Simulated Wave Motion Respirometer (SWMR), energetic costs were measured via intermittent-flow respirometry as fish swam through a regime of increasing wave frequencies and amplitudes. Oxygen consumption rates were measured for coral reef associated species that utilize different swimming modes. For all species examined, increases in wave intensity, as simulated by increases in frequency and amplitude of wave action, yielded higher metabolic rates (MR), however, there was no significant difference in net cost of swimming (NCOS; swimming MR - standard metabolic rate, SMR) among species. When examining the effect of frequency of oscillation on MR at similar average velocities, body and caudal fin (BCF) swimmers showed an increase in NCOS, while median and paired fin (MPF) swimmers did not, indicating that the cost of increasing wave frequency was higher for BCF swimmers than MPF swimmers. Increasing intensity of wave action altered swimming strategy for MPF swimmers, marked by frequent swimming in reverse for one half of the oscillation. This swimming strategy suggests that the cost of turning around every time the flow direction changes is less efficient than swimming in reverse despite an increase in fin-beat frequency (FBF). These results may help explain the observed relationships between morphology, swimming ability, habitat use, and the diverse swimming modes of coral
reef fishes.
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Hawaii Pacific University