BAKER, D.W.*; WOOD, A.M.; KIEFFER, J.D.; University of New Brunswick, Saint John; University of New Brunswick, Saint John; University of New Brunswick, Saint John: Hematological Changes Associated with Forced Activity in Shortnose and Atlantic Sturgeon

We conducted experiments to determine the physiological response to forced activity in shortnose and Atlantic sturgeons. We measured a variety of hematological parameters (e.g., osmolality and concentrations of lactate, glucose, hemoglobin, protein) in shortnose and Atlantic sturgeons before and immediately following five minutes of manual chasing and during recovery at 1hr and 2h post-exercise. Unlike similarly stressed teleost fish, such as the rainbow trout, the hematological parameters measured in the present study did not increase substantially in either sturgeon species. Atlantic sturgeon showed a greater physiological response to forced activity (greater lactate accumulation, increased glucose) compared with the shortnose sturgeon. Taken together, the results suggest that shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon do not exhibit the physiological response to forced activity typical of other fish species. It is possible that sturgeons, overall, possess behavioural or endocrinological mechanisms that differ from those of other fishes. Research into the mechanisms of these potential differences is currently being investigated in our laboratory.