Effect of temperature and dissolved oxygen concentration on the metabolic rate of the turbot and the relationship between metabolic scope and feeding demand

• Published in: Journal of Fish Biology
• Main Authors: Mallekh, R., Lagardère, J. P.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2002
• Subjects: Scophthalmus maximus; Turbot
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2002.tb01707.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1095-8649.2002.tb01707.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2002.tb01707.x

Turbot Scophthalmus maximus maximum oxygen uptake following feeding and exhaustive exercise increased from 107 mg O2 kg −1 h −1 at 6° C to c . 218 mg O2 kg −1 h −1 at 18° C, then increased slightly from 18 to 22° C to 224 mg O2 kg −1 h −1 . Standard oxygen uptake increased exponentially as a function of temperature from 11 mg O2 kg −1 h −1 at 6° C to 66 mg O2 kg −1 h −1 at 22° C. Gradual reduction in oxygen concentration to 87–90% air saturation at 6, 10. 18° C and <80% at 14 and 22° C limited the maximum metabolic rate but, supersaturation (>100% saturation) had little effect. Metabolic scope attained a maximum of 176 mg O 2 kg −1 h −1 at 18° C. Interpolation of the results showed that this value changed little between 16 and 20° C. It is suggested that this temperature range is optimal for turbot of c . 500 g. A comparison with a previous study on feeding demand in intensive farming conditions showed a linear relationship between appetite and metabolic scope. It is concluded that the ability of a fish to supply energy (including the energy requirement of digestive metabolism) above a standard level is a limiting factor in the manifestation of its feeding demand.