Oxygen requirements of whitefish and vendace (Coregoninae) embryos at final stages of their development

P. Czerkies, K. Kordalski, T. Golas, D. Krysinski, M. Luczynski-2002

Aquaculture, 211(1-4): 375-385
Abstract:

Whole eggs and excised embryos of vendace (Coregonus albula) and whitefish (C. lavaretus) were exposed to various partial pressures of oxygen for 60 min at 4 and 8 °C, and their heart rate was measured. Embryos responded to hypoxic conditions by a decrease in heart rate (bradycardia). The intensity of bradycardia increased at decreasing partial pressures of oxygen and it was always higher in the whole-egg embryos than in the excised ones. The lower acceptable limits of partial pressures of oxygen for embryos at the developmental stage of eye movement visible and at 4 °C were estimated as about 30.6 mm Hg (2.5 mg/l dissolved oxygen concentration-DO) for whitefish and about 38.8 mm Hg (3.2 mg/l DO) for vendace. At 8 °C, respective values were about 54.0 mm Hg (4.0 mg/l DO) and 52.7 mm Hg (3.9 mg/l DO).

(Department of Fish Biology and Culture, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego Street 5, 10-718 Olsztyn-Kortowo, Poland, e-mail of M. Luczynski: mirekl@uwm.edu.pl)

home