Routine metabolic rate of southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii)
Date
2008
Authors
Fitzgibbon, Q.
Baudinette, R.
Musgrove, R.
Seymour, R.
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Journal article
Citation
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology -Part A : Molecular and Integrative Physiology, 2008; 150(2):231-238
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Q.P. Fitzgibbon, R.V. Baudinette, R.J. Musgrove and R.S. Seymour
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Abstract
Routine metabolic rate (RMR) was measured in fasting southern bluefin tuna, Thunnus maccoyii, the largest tuna species studied so far (body mass=19.6 kg (+/-1.9 SE)). Mean mass-specific RMR was 460 mg kg(-1) h(-1) (+/-34.9) at a mean water temperature of 19 degrees C. When evaluated southern bluefin tuna standard metabolic rate (SMR) is added to published values of other tuna species, there is a strong allometeric relationship with body mass (423 M(0.86), R(2)=0.97). This demonstrates that tuna interspecific SMR scale with respect to body mass similar to that of other active teleosts, but is approximately 4-fold higher. However, RMR (not SMR) is most appropriate in ram-ventilating species that are physiologically unable to achieve complete rest. Respiration was measured in a large (250,000 l) flexible polypropylene respirometer (mesocosm respirometer) that was deployed within a marine-farm sea cage for 29 days. Fasted fish were maintained within the respirometer up to 42 h while dissolved oxygen dropped by 0.056 (+/-0.004) mg l(-1) h(-1). Fish showed no obvious signs of stress. They swam at 1.1 (+/-0.1) fork lengths per second and several fed within the respirometer immediately after measurements.
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