Effects of temperature, hypoxia and activity on the metabolism of juvenile Atlantic cod

Abstract

Standard metabolic rate (SMR), active metabolic rate (AMR) and critical oxygen saturation ( S crit ) were measured in Atlantic cod Gadus morhua at 5, 10 and 15° C. The SMR was 35.5, 57.0 and 78.2 mg O 2 kg −1 h −1 and S crit was 16.5, 23.2 and 30.3%, at 5, 10 and 15° C, respectively. Previously reported SMR for Atlantic cod from arctic waters at 4° C was twice that measured at 5° C in the present study. A possible intraspecific latitudinal difference in the SMR is discussed. The AMR was 146.6, 197.9 and 200.4 mg O 2 kg −1 h −1 and the critical swimming speed ( U crit ) was 1 6, 1.7 and 1.9 at 5, 10 and 15° C, respectively. The maximum oxygen consumption was found to be associated with exercise, rather than recovery from exercise as previously reported in another Study of Cod metabolism.