Fish, like other living systems, must conform to the laws of thermodynamics. Fish gain matter and energy in food, and they lose absorbed matter and energy as a result of catabolism—which provides energy for maintenance and activity—and the elaboration of reproductive products. Physiological energetics, or animal bioenergetics, concerns the rates of energy expenditure, the losses and gains, and the efficiencies of energy transformation, as functional relations of the whole organism. The majority of such presentations commence with an energy-flow diagram indicating the main steps that the energy of food intake follows through the organism, and the paths of energy distribution. Each of these steps with their appropriate values is subject to quantitative change, depending on many biotic and abiotic factors. With the thought that the basis of these energy exchanges needs to be elaborated first, it was deemed more fitting to conclude with a quantitatively expressed flow diagram. An understanding of the physical, chemical, and biological basis on which the energetics is built, and the equivalents employed, constitutes the opening section of this chapter. Some necessary distinctions between mammalian and nonmammalian systems are made. An adequately nutritious diet is assumed; the basic source of fuel for the fire of life is solely derived from the food.

6 – Physiological Energetics

The study of animal function is organized more or less under three heads, which in everyday language are, as applied to a machine, what it can do, how it works, and what makes it go. Insofar as fields of study can be classified in biology these divisions of the subject are ordinarily considered to be autecology, physiology, and biochemistry, with a great deal of individual taste governing the label any particular worker may choose for himself. The chapter discusses what fish can do in relation to their environment and therefore largely autecology. The chapter focuses on the action of the environment on metabolism and the effects of this action on the activity of the organism.

1 – The Effect of Environmental Factors on the Physiology of Fish

SYNOPSIS. Studies on the relation of temperature to tolerance, preference, metabolic rate, performance, circulation, and growth of sockeye salmon all point to a physiological optimum in the region of 15°C. Natural occurrence is limited in time and space at temperatures above 18°C despite being able to tolerate 24°C. Forms of physiological inadequacy can be demonstrated which account for such restrictions in distribution. Predictive power for locating and accounting for concentrations of young fish in thermally stratified lakes appeared to provide “proof” for the controlling influence of the physiological optimum temperature. Early literature on the ecology of sockeye supported this view. Recent studies using midwater trawls and sonar detection reveal a diurnal behavior pattern which points to a more subtle interaction of biotic andabiotic factors governing vertical distribution in which the controlling force appears to be bioenergetic efficiency. It is concluded that a mechanism of behavioral thermoregulation has evolved which favorably balances daily metabolic expenditures in order to conserve energy when food is limited.

Energetic Responses of Salmon to Temperature. A Study of Some Thermal Relations in the Physiology and Freshwater Ecology of Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerkd)

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/177/4045/222.full.pdf

Locomotion: Energy Cost of Swimming, Flying, and Running

Measurements of aerobic scope [the difference between minimum and maximum oxygen consumption rate (![Graphic][1] and ![Graphic][2] , respectively)] are increasing in prevalence as a tool to address questions relating to fish ecology and the effects of climate change. However, there are underlying issues regarding the array of methods used to measure aerobic scope across studies and species. In an attempt to enhance quality control before the diversity of issues becomes too great to remedy, this paper outlines common techniques and pitfalls associated with measurements of ![Graphic][3] , ![Graphic][4] and aerobic scope across species and under different experimental conditions. Additionally, we provide a brief critique of the oxygen- and capacity-limited thermal tolerance (OCLTT) hypothesis, a concept that is intricately dependent on aerobic scope measurements and is spreading wildly throughout the literature despite little evidence for its general applicability. It is the intention of this paper to encourage transparency and accuracy in future studies that measure the aerobic metabolism of fishes, and to highlight the fundamental issues with assuming broad relevance of the OCLTT hypothesis.

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/pdf/aerobic-scope-measurements-of-fishes-in-an-era-of-climate-1ymma6bxbp.pdf

Aerobic scope measurements of fishes in an era of climate change: respirometry, relevance and recommendations

The rate of oxygen consumption in young sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) was determined for various swimming speeds, including fatigue levels, at temperatures of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 24 °C. A loga...

J. R. Brett

Papers

The Respiratory Metabolism and Swimming Performance of Young Sockeye Salmon