Publication
Title
Partition of aerobic and anaerobic swimming costs related to gait transitions in a labriform swimmer
Author
Abstract
Members of the family Embiotocidae exhibit a distinct gait transition from exclusively pectoral fin oscillation to combined pectoral and caudal fin propulsion with increasing swimming speed. The pectoralcaudal gait transition occurs at a threshold speed termed Upc. The objective of this study was to partition aerobic and anaerobic swimming costs at speeds below and above the Upc in the striped surfperch Embiotoca lateralis using swimming respirometry and video analysis to test the hypothesis that the gait transition marks the switch from aerobic to anaerobic power output. Exercise oxygen consumption rate was measured at 1.4, 1.9 and 2.3 L s1. The presence and magnitude of excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) were evaluated after each swimming speed. The data demonstrated that 1.4 L s1 was below the Upc, whereas 1.9 and 2.3 L s1 were above the Upc. These last two swimming speeds included caudal fin propulsion in a mostly steady and unsteady (burst-assisted) mode, respectively. There was no evidence of EPOC after swimming at 1.4 and 1.9 L s1, indicating that the pectoralcaudal gait transition was not a threshold for anaerobic metabolism. At 2.3 L s1, E. lateralis switched to an unsteady burst and flap gait. This swimming speed resulted in EPOC, suggesting that anaerobic metabolism constituted 25% of the total costs. Burst activity correlated positively with the magnitude of the EPOC. Collectively, these data indicate that steady axial propulsion does not lead to EPOC whereas transition to burst-assisted swimming above Upc is associated with anaerobic metabolism in this labriform swimmer.
Language
English
Source (journal)
The journal of experimental biology. - London, 1930, currens
Publication
London : 2010
ISSN
0022-0949 [print]
1477-9145 [online]
DOI
10.1242/JEB.041368
Volume/pages
213 :13 (2010) , p. 2177-2183
ISI
000278671900009
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 25.06.2010
Last edited 23.08.2022
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