The standard metabolic rate of dolphin fish |
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| Authors: | D D Benetti R W Brill †‡ S A Kraul Jr§ |
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| Institution: | Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Division of Marine Biology and Fisheries, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149 and The Oceanic Institute, Makapuu Point, P.O. Box 25280, Honolulu, HI 96825;Southwest Fisheries Science Center Honolulu Laboratory, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 2570 Dole St., Honolulu, HI 96822–2396;Waikiki Aquarium, 2777 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815, U.S.A. |
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| Abstract: | The standard metabolic rates (SMRs) of 11 (1.395–4.125 kg) dolphin fish (mahimahi or dorado, Coryphaena hippurus ) were measured at 25°± 0.5°C. Fish were prevented from swimming with neuromuscular blocking agents and force ventilated. Heart rates were determined simultaneously. SMRs (358–726 mg O2 h –1) were several times those of other similarly sized active teleosts such as salmonids, but close to those of tunas. Heart rates (84–161 beats min –1) were also high, but alike those of tunas under similar circumstances. As in tunas, the high SMR of dolphin fish may result from high osmoregulatory costs engendered by their large gill surface areas and/or other adaptations necessary for achieving exceptionally high maximum metabolic rates. |
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| Keywords: | mahimahi dorado energetics pelagic fish growth |
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