Meeting Abstract

P1.163  Tuesday, Jan. 4  Investigations into the Relationship between Post-Stress Metabolic Rates and Growth of Fishes BARKOWSKI, N.A.*; LOCHMANN, S.E.; FULLER, A.; HAUKENES, A.H.; University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff; University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff; USDA-ARS HKD Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center; University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff nbarkowski@uaex.edu

The objective of this study was to determine if respirometry indices of fish following a stressor correspond with growth. On four occasions over a period of one month, oxygen consumption rates of 16 hybrid striped bass families were measured following a standardized handling stressor. Groups of 10 fish from each family were netted, held out of water for 30-s, placed into the respirometer, and oxygen consumption rates were recorded for 90-min. Lengths and weights of individual fish were recorded after each test and relative growth rates, instantaneous growth rates, daily increase in length, and relative condition factors determined. The mean weight adjusted MO2 for the first and last 30 min of measurement, the difference between these means, and the slope of MO2 values for the final 70 min were used to characterize the metabolic responses following the stressor. No differences among families were observed for relative growth rate, instantaneous growth rates, or daily increase in length over the course of this study. However, a significant difference in relative condition factors did exist among families and a significant correlation between the slope of MO2 over the final 70 minutes and relative condition factors were observed. Through further investigation of these relationships, we hope to demonstrate respirometry as a useful tool in characterizing phenotypic variation associated with recovery from stress in fishes and its relationship with growth.