ESCAPE PERFORMANCE IN THE SUB-ANTARCTIC NOTOTHENIOID FISH Eleginops maclovinus.

DANIEL A. FERNÁNDEZ; J. CALVO; J. M. WAKELING; F. A. VANELLA; I. A. JOHNSTON

POLAR BIOLOGY

Springer

Año: 2002 vol. 25 p. 914 - 920

0722-4060

Fast-start performance associated with escape behaviour was investigated in the sub-Antarctic notothenioid Eleginops maclovinus from the Beagle Channel, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina (mean winter water temperature 4°C, mean summer water temperature 10°C). Fish acclimated to 8.5°C for 2 months were filmed at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10°C. Escape responses were temperature dependent over the range of temperatures tested. Maximum length-specific velocity, maximum length-specific acceleration (Âmax) and inertial power output (Piner) increased significantly with temperature. Q10 values for , Âmax and Piner were 1.90, 3.27 and 8.90, respectively. Non-dimensional curvature of the spine  also varied significantly with temperature, but was higher at low temperatures. The values of  were threefold lower than previously reported for Antarctic notothenioids and similar to the values for temperate species. The results indicate that the high values of  observed during escape behaviour in Antarctic notothenioids are not a universal feature of the suborder. A greater flexion of the body during fast starts is therefore a promising candidate for a specialised feature of behaviour linked to low-temperature performance.