Meeting Abstract
Cunner (Tautogolabrus adspersus) are a temperate labrid that can be found along the coast of Northeastern North America from Virginia to Nova Scotia. During winter, cunner enter a state of extended torpor in order to conserve energy. In cunner, locomotor muscle function and performance is inhibited when temperatures drop below 10 oC. To further understand the effects of temperature on ecologically relevant tasks, we asked, how is feeding activity influenced by a decrease in temperature? Our study investigated the feeding kinematics of cunner at varying temperatures (20 oC, 15 oC, 10 oC, 5 oC). We hypothesized that the kinematic variables would be slower at lower temperatures. Seven cunner were fed pieces of sandworm and Asian shore crabs. For each individual, we recorded three feeding events for each prey type at 500 frames s-1. We analyzed: gape, gape velocity, ram, ram velocity, time to prey capture, prey velocity, and distance to prey at mouth opening. Contrary to our hypothesis, no differences in feeding behaviors were observed. Ten oC is the upper limit of the cunner hibernation temperature range, therefore, jaw muscle activity might not be inhibited at this temperature. Further experimentation may yield significant differences in cunner acclimated at 5 oC. If there are no differences in temperature after further experimentation, it is possible that cunner muscles are highly adaptable and that their feeding behavior would not be altered by drastic changes in temperature.
