TY - JOUR
T1 - Impacts of dissolved oxygen on the behavior and physiology of bonefish
T2 - Implications for live-release angling tournaments
AU - Shultz, Aaron D.
AU - Murchie, Karen J.
AU - Griffith, Christine
AU - Cooke, Steven J.
AU - Danylchuk, Andy J.
AU - Goldberg, Tony L.
AU - Suski, Cory D.
N1 - Funding Information:
We gratefully acknowledge the staff, students, and volunteers of the Cape Eleuthera Institute and The Island School who assisted with fieldwork. In particular, we acknowledge Chris Pullen and Kristin Hayes for their ingenuity while executing the field and wetlab components of this study. This project was supported by grants from Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (in particular, we thank Aaron Adams, Jim Trice, Tom Davidson, and Russ Fisher). Additional financial support was provided by the Cape Eleuthera Foundation and the University of Illinois . KJM was supported by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council CGSD fellowship and SJC by the Canada Research Chairs Program . We also thank The Bahamas Department of Marine Resources for their support. [SS]
PY - 2011/6/15
Y1 - 2011/6/15
N2 - Saltwater tournaments for bonefish (Albula spp.) often retain fish in livewells for up to 8. h to allow fish to recover from the physiological disturbances associated with angling. During livewell confinement, oxygen concentrations may fall due to elevated biomass of fish, coupled with low exchange of water. Some anglers use oxygen infusion systems, potentially exposing fish to water that is supersaturated with oxygen. Currently, the effects of differing levels of oxygen on bonefish recovery are unknown. Because physiological disturbances related to angling can influence the probability of post-release predation in bonefish, livewell conditions that maximize recovery rates without imparting additional negative consequences need to be defined. The objective of this study was to assess the behavior, physiological response (i.e., blood chemistry), and metabolic rates of bonefish recovered in hypoxic, normoxic, or hyperoxic seawater after exercise (i.e., a simulated angling event). Behavioral experiments consisted of placing bonefish in one of three dissolved oxygen concentrations and monitoring gill ventilation rates. For blood sampling and metabolic rates, bonefish were exercised and then recovered in different dissolved oxygen concentrations, replicating an angling event coupled with different livewell holding conditions. Both hypoxic and hyperoxic conditions caused bonefish to experience behavioral and physiological disturbances, compared to fish in the normoxic treatment. In addition, bonefish used more energy when recovered in hyperoxic seawater and fish in the hypoxic treatment were unable remove lactate compared to fish in the normoxic treatment. These results indicate that anglers and tournament organizers should recover angled bonefish in normoxic seawater. To achieve these conditions, dissolved oxygen concentrations should be monitored with a commercially available meter and maintained between 4-8. mg/L by circulating fresh seawater into livewells.
AB - Saltwater tournaments for bonefish (Albula spp.) often retain fish in livewells for up to 8. h to allow fish to recover from the physiological disturbances associated with angling. During livewell confinement, oxygen concentrations may fall due to elevated biomass of fish, coupled with low exchange of water. Some anglers use oxygen infusion systems, potentially exposing fish to water that is supersaturated with oxygen. Currently, the effects of differing levels of oxygen on bonefish recovery are unknown. Because physiological disturbances related to angling can influence the probability of post-release predation in bonefish, livewell conditions that maximize recovery rates without imparting additional negative consequences need to be defined. The objective of this study was to assess the behavior, physiological response (i.e., blood chemistry), and metabolic rates of bonefish recovered in hypoxic, normoxic, or hyperoxic seawater after exercise (i.e., a simulated angling event). Behavioral experiments consisted of placing bonefish in one of three dissolved oxygen concentrations and monitoring gill ventilation rates. For blood sampling and metabolic rates, bonefish were exercised and then recovered in different dissolved oxygen concentrations, replicating an angling event coupled with different livewell holding conditions. Both hypoxic and hyperoxic conditions caused bonefish to experience behavioral and physiological disturbances, compared to fish in the normoxic treatment. In addition, bonefish used more energy when recovered in hyperoxic seawater and fish in the hypoxic treatment were unable remove lactate compared to fish in the normoxic treatment. These results indicate that anglers and tournament organizers should recover angled bonefish in normoxic seawater. To achieve these conditions, dissolved oxygen concentrations should be monitored with a commercially available meter and maintained between 4-8. mg/L by circulating fresh seawater into livewells.
KW - Behavior
KW - Blood chemistry
KW - Bonefish
KW - Metabolic rate
KW - Oxygen
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jembe.2011.03.009
DO - 10.1016/j.jembe.2011.03.009
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:79955715298
SN - 0022-0981
VL - 402
SP - 19
EP - 26
JO - Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
JF - Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
IS - 1-2
ER -