Antibody-producing cells correlated to body weight in juvenile chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) acclimated to optimal and elevated temperatures.

The immune response of juvenile chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) ranging in weight from approximately 10 to 55 g was compared when the fish were acclimated to either 13 or 21 degrees C. A haemolytic plaque assay was conducted to determine differences in the number of antibody-producing cells (APC) among fish of a similar age but different body weights. Regression analyses revealed significant increases in the number of APC with increasing body weight when fish were acclimated to either water temperature. These results emphasise the importance of standardising fish weight in immunological studies of salmonids before exploring the possible effects of acclimation temperatures.     

Responses of the teleost Hoplias malabaricus to hypoxia

Synopsis Oxygen uptake (VO₂) during graded hypoxia, rate of hypoxia acclimation, breathing frequency (f_R), breath volume (V_{S, R}) and gill ventilation (V_G) were measured in Hoplias malabaricus. Normoxia and hypoxia acclimated fish had similar and constant VO₂ and V_G in a range of water PO₂ from 150 to 25 mmHg. Hypoxia acclimated fish showed significantly higher VO₂ in severe hypoxia (PO₂ <15 mmHg). Normoxia acclimated fish showed symptoms similar to hypoxic coma after 1 h of exposure to water PO₂ of 10 mmHg whereas the same symptoms were observed only at PO₂ of 5 mmHg for fish acclimated to hypoxia. Fish required 14 days to achieve full acclimation to hypoxia (PO₂ ≥25 mmHg). Lowering of water PO₂ from 150 to 25 mmHg resulted in normoxic fish showing a 3–2 fold increase in V_G. The increase was the result of an elevation in V_{S, R} rather than f_R. Among normoxia acclimated specimens, small fish showed a higher V_G per unit weight than the large ones in both normoxia (PO₂ =150 mmHg) and hypoxia (PO₂ = 15 mmHg). A decrease in the ventilatory requirement (V_G/VO₂) with increased body weight was recorded in hypoxia (PO₂ = 15 mmHg).     

Calcium regulatory proteins and temperature acclimation of actomyosin ATPase from a eurythermal teleost (Carassius auratus L.)

Summary Goldfish (Carassius auratus) were acclimated for 5 months at temperatures of either 2°C or 31°C. Natural actomyosin was prepared from white myotomal muscle and its Mg²⁺Ca²⁺ ATPase activity determined. Temperature acclimation results in adaptations in substrate turnover number and thermodynamic activation parameters of the ATPase. When assayed at 31°C the Mg²⁺Ca²⁺ ATPase of natural actomyosin was 4 times higher in 31°C than 2°C acclimated fish. Arrhenius plots of natural actomyosin ATPase from cold acclimated fish show a break in slope at 15–18°C. In contrast, the temperature dependence of warm acclimated actomyosin was linear. Activation enthalpy (H ) of the ATPase, calculated over the range 0–16°C, was approximately 8,000 cal/mole lower in 2°C than 32°C acclimated fish.In contrast, desensitised actomyosins from which the calcium regulatory proteins have been removed show a linear temperature dependence in the range 0–32°C and have similar properties in 2°C and 31°C acclimated fish. Cross-hybridisation of regulatory proteins (tropomyosin-troponins complex) from cold-acclimated fish to desensitised actomyosin from warm-acclimated fish alters the ATPase towards that of cold-acclimated natural actomyosin and vice versa. The results suggest that the regulatory proteins can influence the kinetics of the ATPase and, furthermore, that they are involved in the acclimation of the actomyosin to different cell temperatures.     

Acclimation to humic substances prevents whole body sodium loss and stimulates branchial calcium uptake capacity in cardinal tetras Paracheirodon axelrodi (Schultz) subjected to extremely low pH

Kinetics of sodium (Na⁺) and calcium (Ca²⁺) uptake were studied in cardinal tetras Paracheirodon axelrodi acclimated to humic substances (HS, 35 mg C l^?1) and low pH (pH 3·72), parallel to analysis of whole body Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ content. This species had a high uptake capacity (J_max) for both Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ in soft, ion‐poor water. The affinity constant (K_m) did not vary significantly among treatments for either Na⁺ or Ca²⁺. J_max Na⁺ increased 30% in fish acclimated to HS for 5 weeks. Acclimation to low pH had no effect on J_max Na⁺ but this treatment was associated with a 32% decrease on whole body Na⁺ content, suggesting that fish were unable to compensate for the increased Na⁺ loss induced by extreme acidity. Exposure of fish to HS + low pH, the treatment most closely approximating to the conditions experienced by the species in its native environment, resulted in an increase in whole body Na⁺ by 31% relative to acclimation to low pH alone. J_max Ca²⁺ in cardinal tetras was high relative to that documented in other freshwater species acclimated to soft water (J_max= 30 nmol g^?1 h^?1). Prolonged exposure of fish to pH 3·72 inhibited J_max Ca²⁺ by 53%, although whole body Ca²⁺ content remained unchanged relative to control. Acclimation of fish to HS + low pH resulted in an increase of J_max Ca²⁺ by 166% relative to low pH alone. Collectively, these results suggest that HS protect cardinal tetras acclimated to soft, acidic waters by preventing excessive Na⁺ loss (as indicated by whole body Na⁺ content) and by stimulating Ca²⁺ uptake (as indicated by increased J_max Ca²⁺) to ensure proper homeostasis.     

Temperature acclimation and the expression of contractile protein isoforms in the skeletal muscles of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Summary Common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) were acclimated to either 2, 5, 8, 11, 15, 20, or 23°C for 12 weeks (12 h light: 12 h dark). Fish did not feed after 6 weeks at temperatures below 8°C. Skinned fibres were prepared from fast myotomal muscle by freeze-drying. Measured at 0°C unloaded contraction velocity (Vmax) and maximum isometric tension generation (Po) were 2–3 times higher in the 11°C-than 23°C-acclimated groups, and had intermediate values in 15 °C-acclimated fish. Po and Vmax at 0°C were not significantly different for carp maintained at 2, 5, 8, or 11°C. Measured at the acclimation temperature of each group Vmax and Po were 51% and 71% lower for fibres from 2°C- than 23°C-acclimated fish. The results indicate a partial capacity adaptation of muscle power output in fish acclimated between 11°C and 23°C. At 8°C the ATPase activity of myofibrils was 2 times higher in fish acclimated to 8°C than to 20°C. The effects of temperature acclimation on the protein composition of myofibrils was investigated using one- and two-dimensional electrophoresis. Peptide maps of purified myosin heavy chains and actin prepared by proteolytic digestion with either Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease or chymotrypsin were similar for both acclimation groups. The molecular weights and isoelectric points of the major isoforms of tropomyosin, troponin C, troponin I, troponin T, and myosin light chains (MLC1, MLC2 and MLC3) were also similar in 8°C- and 20°C-acclimated carp. A 20 kDa molecular weight protein with a pI intermediate between that for MLC2 and MLC3 was found in myofibrils and single fibres from carp acclimated to 8°C but was not present in carp acclimated to 20°C. It is suggested that this band corresponds to a myosin light chain isoform unique to cold-acclimated fish. Evidence was also obtained that myofibrils from warm-acclimated fish contained a second minor isoform of troponin I.     

Thermal maxima for juvenile shortnose sturgeon acclimated to different temperatures

Many populations of shortnose sturgeon, Acipenser brevirostrum, in the southeastern United States continue to suffer from poor juvenile recruitment. High summer water temperatures, which may be exacerbated by anthropogenic activities, are thought to affect recruitment by limiting available summer habitat. However, information regarding temperature thresholds of shortnose sturgeon is limited. In this study, the thermal maximum method and a heating rate of 0.1°C min⁻¹ was used to determine critical and lethal thermal maxima for young-of-the-year (YOY) shortnose sturgeon acclimated to temperatures of 19.5 and 24.1°C. Fish used in the experiment were 0.6 to 35.0 g in weight and 64 to 140 days post hatch (dph) in age. Critical thermal maxima were 33.7°C (±0.3) and 35.1°C (±0.2) for fish acclimated to 19.5 and 24.1°C, respectively. Critical thermal maxima significantly increased with an increase in acclimation temperature (p < 0.0001). Lethal thermal maxima were 34.8°C (±0.1) and 36.1°C (±0.1) for fish acclimated to 19.5 and 24.1°C, respectively. Lethal thermal maxima were significantly affected by acclimation temperature, the log₁₀ (fish weight), and the interaction between log₁₀(fish weight) and acclimation temperature (p < 0.0001). Thermal maxima were used to estimate upper limits of safe temperature, thermal preferences, and optimal growth temperatures of YOY shortnose sturgeon. Upper limits of safe temperature were similar to previous temperature tolerance information and indicate that summer temperatures in southeastern rivers may be lethal to YOY shortnose sturgeon if suitable thermal refuge cannot be found.     

Effect of acclimation temperature on the upper thermal tolerance of Colorado River cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus: thermal limits of a North American salmonid

In an effort to explore the thermal limitations of Colorado River cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus, the critical thermal maxima (T_cmax) of 1+ year Lake Nanita strain O. c. pleuriticus were evaluated when acclimated to 10, 15 and 20° C. The mean ±s.d. T_cmax for O. c. pleuriticus acclimated to 10° C was 24·6 ± 2·0°C (n = 30), for 15° C‐acclimated fish was 26·9 ± 1·5° C (n = 23) and for 20° C‐acclimated fish was 29·4 ± 1·1° C (n = 28); these results showed a marked thermal acclimation effect (Q₁₀ = 1·20). Interestingly, there was a size effect within treatments, wherein the T_cmax of larger fish was significantly lower than that of smaller fish acclimated to the same temperature. The critical thermal tolerances of age 0 year O. c. pleuriticus were also evaluated from three separate populations: Lake Nanita, Trapper Creek and Carr Creek reared under ‘common‐garden’ conditions prior to thermal acclimation. The Trapper Creek population had significantly warmer T_cmax than the Lake Nanita population, but that of the Carr Creek fish had T_cmax similar to both Trapper Creek and Lake Nanita fish. A comparison of these O. c. pleuriticus T_cmax results with those of other stream‐dwelling salmonids suggested that O. c. pleuriticus are less resistant to rapid thermal fluctuations when acclimated to cold temperatures, but can tolerate similar temperatures when acclimated to warmer temperatures.     

Ultrastructure and metabolism of skeletal muscle fibres in the tench: Effects of long-term acclimation to hypoxia

Summary Tench (Tinca tinca) were acclimated to either aerated (P _{O 2} 17.6 KPa) or hypoxic (P _{O 2} 1.5 KPa) water for 6 weeks.Acclimation to hypoxia resulted in a decrease in mitochondrial volume fraction in both slow (22.9 to 15.0 %) and fast glycolytic (4.5 to 1.8 %) myotomal muscles fibres (P<0.01).Intermyofibrillar mitochondrial populations (4.4 to 1.2% slow; 0.6 to 0.04% fast fibres) were affected to a greater extent than those in the subsarcolemmal zone (18.5 to 13.8% slow; 3.9 to 1.8% fast fibres). After acclimation to hypoxia, cytochrome-oxidase activities decreased by 31 and 33 % in slow and fast fibres, respectively, but were maintained in the liver.Fibre size remained unchanged and actively differentiating fibres were observed in muscles from both groups of fish. Hypoxia resulted in a significant increase in myofibrillar volume fraction in both slow (43.1 to 56.1 %) and fast glycolytic fibres (73.1 to 82.7%) (P<0.05).Glycogen concentrations (mg/100g tissue) for liver (6616) slow muscle (1892) and fast muscle (334) were similar for fish acclimated to aerated or hypoxic water. Acclimation to hypoxia increased carnitine palmitoyl transferase activity (moles substrate utilised g·dry wt_-1 min^-1) in slow (0.42 to 1.1), fast glycolytic muscle (<0.01 to 0.15) and liver (1.1 to 3.7) indicating an enhanced capacity for fatty acid oxidation.Phosphofructokinase activities of fast glycolytic fibres were similar in fish acclimated to either aerated or hypoxic water, consistent with an unaltered capacity for anaerobic glycogenolysis. Hexokinase activities (moles substate utilised, g·dry wt^-1 min^-1) decreased in fast fibres (1.2 to 0.4) but were maintained in the slow muslce (2.1 to 2.5) and liver (4.5 to 4.8) of hypoxic fish. The activities of phosphofructokinase in slow muscle and phosphofructokinase, pyruvate kinase and lactate dehydrogenase in liver were two times higher in fish acclimated to hypoxia. An enhanced capacity for glycolysis in these tissues may reflect a reduced threshold for anaerobic metabolism during activity and/or an adaptation for acute exposure to anoxia in fish acclimated to hypoxia.Abbreviations/Glossary CO cytochrome oxidase activity - CPT carnitine palmitoyltransferase activity - HK hexokinase activity - LDH lactate dehydrogenase activity - PFK phosphofructokinase activity - PK pyruvate kinase activity - Vv volume fractions of cell components - normoxic fish acclimated to aerated water - hypoxic fish acclimated to reduced oxygen tensions - P _{O 2} partial pressure of oxygen tension A preliminary account of part of this work was presented at theXth European Meeting on Muscle and Cell Motility held at Galway, Ireland, in September 1981     

Energy reserves during food deprivation and compensatory growth in juvenile roach: the importance of season and temperature

The effect of 21 days of starvation, followed by a period of compensatory growth during refeeding, was studied in juvenile roach Rutilus rutilus during winter and summer, at 4, 20 and 27° C acclimation temperature and at a constant photoperiod (12L : 12D). Although light conditions were the same during summer and winter experiments and fish were acclimated to the same temperatures, there were significant differences in a range of variables between summer and winter. Generally winter fish were better prepared to face starvation than summer fish, especially when acclimated at a realistic cold season water temperature of 4° C. In winter, the cold acclimated fish had a two to three‐fold larger relative liver size with an approximately double fractional lipid content, in comparison to summer animals at the same temperature. Their white muscle protein and glycogen concentration, but not their lipid content, were significantly higher. Season, independent of photoperiod or reproductive cycle, was therefore an important factor that determined the physiological status of the animal, and should generally be taken into account when fish are acclimated to different temperature regimes. There were no significant differences between seasons with respect to growth. Juvenile roach showed compensatory growth at all three acclimation temperatures with maximal rates of compensatory growth at 27° C. The replenishment of body energy stores, which were utilized during the starvation period, was responsible for the observed mass gain at 4° C. The contribution of the different energy resources (protein, glycogen and lipid) was dependent on acclimation temperature. In 20 and 27° C acclimated roach, the energetic needs during food deprivation were met by metabolizing white muscle energy stores. While the concentration of white muscle glycogen had decreased after the fasting period, the concentrations of white muscle lipid and protein remained more or less constant. The mobilization of protein and fat was revealed by the reduced size of the muscle after fasting, which was reflected in a decrease in condition factor. At 20° C, liver lipids and glycogen were mobilized, which caused a decrease both in the relative liver size and in the concentration of these substrates. Liver size was also decreased after fasting in the 4° C acclimated fish, but the substrate concentrations remained stable. This experimental group additionally utilized white muscle glycogen during food deprivation. Almost all measured variables were back at the control level within 7 days of refeeding.     

The Acclimation of European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) to Temperature: Behavioural and Neurochemical Responses

Studies on fish behavioural and neurophysiological responses to water temperature change may contribute to an improved understanding of the ecological consequences of global warming. We investigated behavioural and neurochemical responses to water temperature in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) acclimated to three temperatures (18, 22 and 28°C). After 21 d of acclimation, three groups of 25 fish each were exposed to four behavioural challenges (foraging, olfactory, aversive and mirror tests). The expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) was then analysed by Western blotting in CNS homogenates (from a subset of the same fish) as a marker for cholinergic system activity. In both foraging and olfactory tests, fish acclimated to 28°C exhibited significantly higher arousal responses than fish acclimated to lower temperatures. All specimens showed fright behaviour in the aversive test, but the latency of the escape response was significantly less in the fish at 28°C. Finally, the highest mirror responsiveness was exhibited by the fish acclimated to 22°C. As in the case of cholinergic neurotransmission, significantly higher ChAT levels were detected in the telencephalon, diencephalon, cerebellum and spinal cord of fish acclimated to 22 or 28°C in comparison with those maintained at 18°C. Lower ChAT levels were detected in the mesencephalon (optic tectum) at 22 and 28°C than at 18°C. These data indicate that neuronal functions are affected by water temperature. Increases or decreases in ChAT expression can be related to the functional modulation of brain and spinal cord centres involved in behavioural responses to temperature change. Overall, the results of this study suggest that the environmental temperature level influences behaviour and CNS neurochemistry in the European sea bass.     

Competition moderates the benefits of thermal acclimation to reproductive performance in male eastern mosquitofish

The reproductive behaviour of the sexually coercive male eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) offers an excellent model system for testing the benefits of reversible thermal acclimation responses to mating success. We acclimated male mosquitofish to either 18 or 30 degrees C (14 h light:10 h dark) for six weeks and tested their ability to obtain coercive copulations in the presence and the absence of male-male competition. Based on the beneficial acclimation hypothesis, we predicted for both sets of experiments that 18 degrees C acclimated males would outperform 30 degrees C acclimated males when tested at 18 degrees C, and vice versa when tested at 30 degrees C. We found that copulation success was greater for acclimated than non-acclimated males at both temperatures when individual males were tested without competing males. In contrast, when males from the different acclimation treatments were competed against each other for copulations with a single female, the 30 degrees C acclimated males were more aggressive and obtained a greater number of copulations at both test temperatures. Thus, we found a clear benefit for acclimation when fish were tested in a non-competitive environment, but acclimation to cool temperatures was associated with a decrease in aggressive behaviour that reduced mating performance at both test temperatures in a competitive environment. In contrast with the long-held assumption that reversible plasticity is beneficial, the adaptive significance of reversible physiological plasticity is affected by a variety of other ecological factors and is more complex than previously suggested.     

Effect of salinity and body weight on ecophysiological performance of the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

Ecophysiological responses of Litopenaeus vannamei were evaluated as functions of environmental salinity and animal size. Growth rate, routine metabolic rate, limiting oxygen concentration, and marginal metabolic scope were determined for L. vannamei acclimated to, and tested at, salinities of 2, 10, and 28 ppt, all at 28 °C. Routine metabolic rate (RMR), estimated as oxygen-consumption rate per unit body weight for fasted, routinely-active shrimp, was independent of salinity but decreased with increasing shrimp weight. Limiting oxygen concentration for routine metabolism (LOCr) decreased with increased shrimp weight for the 10 and 28 ppt treatments, but not for the 2 ppt treatment. Marginal metabolic scope (MMS = RMR/LOCr) also decreased with increasing shrimp weight and was independent of salinity. Growth rate was significantly less at 2 ppt than at either 10 or 28 ppt, which gave similar growth rates.     

Characterizing the escape response of juvenile summer flounder Paralichthys dentatus to diel‐cycling hypoxia

Swimming speed, angular correlation and expected displacement were measured in juvenile summer flounder Paralichthys dentatus acclimated to either oxygen saturation (c. 7·8 mg O₂ l^?1; saturation‐acclimated fish) or diel‐cycling hypoxia (cycling between 11·0 and 2·0 mg O₂ l^?1) for 10 days and subsequently exposed to more severe diel‐cycling hypoxia (cycling between 7·0 and 0·4 mg O₂ l^?1). Saturation‐acclimated P. dentatus exhibited an active response to declining dissolved oxygen (DO) by increasing swimming speed, angular correlation and expected displacement to peak levels at 1·4 mg O₂ l^?1 that were 3·5, 5·5 and 4·2 fold, respectively, greater than those at DO saturation. Diel‐cycling hypoxia‐acclimated P. dentatus also exhibited an active response to declining DO, although it was relatively less pronounced. Diel‐cycling hypoxia‐acclimated P. dentatus swimming speed, however, still doubled as DO decreased from 7·0 to 2·8 mg O₂ l^?1. Diel‐cycling hypoxia‐acclimated P. dentatus did not recover as well from low DO exposure as did saturation‐acclimated fish. This was reflected in their relatively more random swimming (low angular correlation between successive moves) and poor maintenance of rank order between individuals during the recovery phase. Even saturation‐acclimated P. dentatus did not resume swimming at speeds observed at saturation until DO was 4·2 mg O₂ l^?1. Paralichthys dentatus were very sensitive to decreasing DO, even at DO levels that were not lethal or growth limiting. This sensitivity and their poor recovery may preclude juvenile P. dentatus from using highly productive nursery habitats affected by diel‐cycling hypoxia.     

温度和饥饿对鲤鱼幼鱼静止代谢率及自发运动的影响

分别在15和25℃条件下对鲤鱼(Cyprinus carpio)幼鱼[体重(10.36±0.22)g,n=88]进行2周的饥饿处理(饥饿组)或持续投喂(对照组),然后对实验鱼的静止代谢率(resting metabolic rate,RMR)进行了测定,同时以活动期的胸鳍﹑尾鳍摆动频率,观察期(10 min)胸鳍﹑尾鳍平均摆动次数,和运动时间比为指标对实验鱼的自发运动进行了观察。研究发现:温度和饥饿均显著影响鲤鱼幼鱼的静止代谢率(P0.05);在15与25℃条件下饥饿分别导致静止代谢率下降了19%和20%;温度由15℃上升至25℃,对照组与饥饿组静止代谢率分别增加了83%和80%。在15与25℃条件下,饥饿对鲤鱼幼鱼的自发运动具有显著不同的影响(P0.05),且胸鳍和尾鳍的结果十分相似;在15℃饥饿组与对照组的胸鳍、尾鳍摆动频率(活动期,以下类同)均无显著差异,而饥饿组运动时间比显著低于对照组,导致饥饿组的胸鳍、尾鳍平均摆动次数(观察期,以下类同)均显著低于对照组(P0.05);而在25℃饥饿组的胸鳍、尾鳍摆动频率均显著高于对照组,运动时间比无显著差异,导致饥饿组的胸鳍、尾鳍平均摆动次数均显著高于对照组(P0.05)。研究结果提示,在15℃下鲤鱼幼鱼通过降低自发运动以降低能量消耗来适应饥饿,而在25℃条件下,鲤鱼幼鱼通过增加自发运动来增大获取食物的机率以应对饥饿,这可能与野外环境中不同温度下食物丰富度及鲤鱼幼鱼的生理状况有关,但静止代谢率并未呈现与自发运动相关联的变化。     

The effect of feeding strategies and body weight on growth performance and hematological parameters of Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii,Brandt 1869): Preliminary results

The purpose of present study was to investigate the growth performance and hematological parameters of Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baerii in three feeding strategies (satiation feeding, restricted feeding and starvation). We considered two body weights 465.75 ± 11.18 g and 250.40 ± 12 g for large fish and small fish, respectively. In a 45‐day experiment, eighteen fiberglass tanks were used for six triplicate treatments. In restricted feeding strategy, the fish were fed to 50% of satiation and starved treatments were an absolute feed deprivation throughout the experiment. At the end of 45‐day period, the hematological parameters were measured. The reduction of weight, condition factor and daily growth rate in the smaller fish was dramatically higher than the larger fish. Feed deprivation increased the rate of weight loss. Specific growth rate were negative in the large and small fish of starved treatments. The hematological results revealed no significant differences in except for the number of monocytes in larger fish. Large satiated fish showed the highest number of monocytes. In general, these strategies (restriction and deprivation) did not have any negative impacts on the hematological parameter in both sizes but respect to fish body weight, difference in total feed input between satiated and restricted treatments changed growth performance. It seems that restricted feeding (50% of satiation) in large fish was enough to achieve optimal growth while the amount of feed provided for small fish was not enough. Therefore; we can conclude that the restricted feeding is an effective strategy in rearing sturgeon at higher weight when the rearing condition is unsuitable.     

Potential for adaptation to climate change in a coral reef fish

Predicting the impacts of climate change requires knowledge of the potential to adapt to rising temperatures, which is unknown for most species. Adaptive potential may be especially important in tropical species that have narrow thermal ranges and live close to their thermal optimum. We used the animal model to estimate heritability, genotype by environment interactions and nongenetic maternal components of phenotypic variation in fitness‐related traits in the coral reef damselfish, Acanthochromis polyacanthus. Offspring of wild‐caught breeding pairs were reared for two generations at current‐day and two elevated temperature treatments (+1.5 and +3.0 °C) consistent with climate change projections. Length, weight, body condition and metabolic traits (resting and maximum metabolic rate and net aerobic scope) were measured at four stages of juvenile development. Additive genetic variation was low for length and weight at 0 and 15 days posthatching (dph), but increased significantly at 30 dph. By contrast, nongenetic maternal effects on length, weight and body condition were high at 0 and 15 dph and became weaker at 30 dph. Metabolic traits, including net aerobic scope, exhibited high heritability at 90 dph. Furthermore, significant genotype x environment interactions indicated potential for adaptation of maximum metabolic rate and net aerobic scope at higher temperatures. Net aerobic scope was negatively correlated with weight, indicating that any adaptation of metabolic traits at higher temperatures could be accompanied by a reduction in body size. Finally, estimated breeding values for metabolic traits in F2 offspring were significantly affected by the parental rearing environment. Breeding values at higher temperatures were highest for transgenerationally acclimated fish, suggesting a possible role for epigenetic mechanisms in adaptive responses of metabolic traits. These results indicate a high potential for adaptation of aerobic scope to higher temperatures, which could enable reef fish populations to maintain their performance as ocean temperatures rise.     

Responses of the killifish (Aphanius dispar) to long-term exposure to elevated temperatures: growth,survival and microstructure of gill and heart tissues

Some fish species, such as killifish, that normally inhabit temperate water environments are also found in extreme thermal environments such as thermal springs. The extent of the adaptations involved is not known. In the present laboratory study, we exposed killifish (Aphanius dispar) acclimated to a normal thermal environment to elevated temperatures (37–40 °C) in which related killifish species live permanently. Our objective was to determine whether there is evidence that killifish have heat-shock characteristics that make permanent adaptation likely. The fish was exposed to this temperature for a period of 44 days and then compared with control fish kept at their normal temperature (24 °C) with respect to growth, survival and histopathology of gill and heart tissues. At the end of the experimental time, the percentage of body weight gain and specific growth rate were significantly lower in fish kept in thermal stress compared with the control group. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was also significantly affected by water temperature, so that during thermal stress the values of FCR were negative. Fish condition (Condition factor: CF) did not differ significantly between both groups at the end of the experiment. On days 11 and 33, however, CF was significantly lower in the thermal stress group. The gill showed blood congestion in primary lamellae and shortened secondary lamellae in fish kept at 37–40 °C. No specific alterations were found in the cardiac tissue of fish kept in thermal stress conditions. Under thermal stress, 40% of fish survived until the end of the experiment. A preliminary conclusion drawn from this work is that A. dispar, which lives at normal temperatures, shows evidence of adaptability to elevated temperatures that could be a factor in the ability of killifish to adapt permanently over time to thermal environment.     

Effects of Dietary Fatty Acids and Exercise on Body‐Weight Regulation and Metabolism in Rats

Objective: To assess the interaction of high‐fat diets (HF) made with different dietary fatty acids and exercise on body‐weight regulation, adiposity, and metabolism. Research Methods and Procedures: Male Wistar rats born to dams fed HF diets (40% w/w) made with either fish oil (FO), soybean oil (SO), or palm oil (PO) were fed diets similar to their dams and divided randomly into exercise (EX, swimming) or sedentary control (SD) groups when they were 9 weeks old. EX lasted for 6 weeks. Twenty‐four hours after the last EX bout, fasted rats were killed by decapitation. Chemical analyses and body composition analysis were conducted. Results: The results demonstrated that different fatty acids had different effects on body weight, composition, and metabolism. SO‐fed rats gained the most weight and fat. EX reduced body weight of FO‐ and PO‐fed rats, but SO‐fed rats were still heavier and fatter than other rats. Data from SO‐ and PO‐fed rats suggested that they are insulin resistant and that EX normalized this abnormality. Of the three HF diets used, FO produced the least adverse effects compared with PO and SO. Discussion: Not only the quantity of dietary fat, but also the type of fat used, will produce different effects on body weight and metabolism. EX ameliorates the suggested insulin resistance induced in rats fed either highly saturated or n‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Long‐chain n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, as found in fish oil, are more beneficial than n‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acids when fed in high amounts to rats.     

Temperature-induced changes in metabolism and body weight of cattle (Bos taurus).

The metabolic and body weight changes in two non-pregnant beef cows were studied during prolonged exposure to warm (20 +/- 3 degrees C, relative humidity 50-70%) and cold (-10 +/- 2 or -25 +/- 4 degrees C) temperatures. Other factors including daily food intake were held constant throughout each 8-week exposure. During cold exposures, metabolic rate, blood hematocrit, and plasma concentrations of glucose and free fatty acid were elevated and respiratory frequencies and skin temperatures decreased. Resting metabolic rates measured at 20 degrees C, i.e., without the direct influence of cold, were 83.4-95.3 litres 02 per hour when the cows were cold acclimated, at either -10 or -25 degrees C, and 30-40% greater than when the cows were warm acclimated. The resting metabolic response and the concomitant reduction in intensity of shivering is indicative of metabolic acclimation to cold in these animals of greater than 500 kg body weight. As well as the expected changes in body weight with changes in energy metabolism there were losses in weight (13-24 kg) during the first 3 days of each cold exposure. Weight gains occurred when the cold stress was abruptly removed. These short term weight changes were associated with changes in water intake and apparent shifts in body fluid content.     

In vivo protein synthesis in different tissues and the whole body of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdnerii R.). Influence of environmental temperature

The fractional protein synthesis rate (FSR) of tissue (liver, digestive tract, muscle and whole fish) proteins was measured in rainbow trout acclimated to 9 and 18 degrees C after a pulse injection of [U-14C] L-leucine. In each of the tissues two FSRs were calculated based on a different estimate of the specific radioactivity of leucine in the precursor compartment for protein synthesis. Whole fish protein synthesis (WFPS) was estimated to be 7 and 7.6 g protein per kg body weight and per day respectively at 10 and 18 degrees C. Muscle and digestive tract contributed the most (more than 30%) to WFPS. The rate of protein turnover in whole fish was very low, as in the muscle, when compared to liver and digestive tract.