Meeting Abstract
Bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) coast frequently during volitional swimming powered by body and caudal fin undulations, and maintain a straight body-axis during labriform propulsion with the pectoral fins. Inertial drag is therefore functionally important for this species. The drag coefficient estimated from coasting deceleration was 0.015 ± 0.007 at a Reynolds number of 41000 ± 14000 (± 1sd). This was within the coasting range in other species, and lower than values obtained from ‘dead drag’ measurements in this species and others. Low momentum losses during coasting may allow its use during intermittent propulsion to modulate power output or maximize energy economy.
