/3.27
A Relative Study of Oxygen Consumption in Five Species of Fish
We T. Geiling
Introduction
In the past, two general laboratory techni ques have been commonly
employed in determining the oxygen consumption of fish. In one, the
simplest, small fish were sealed in vessels of water of a known oxygen
content and allowed to remain undisturbed until a desired period of
time had elapsed. The oxygen content was then determined and the
difference reported as the oxygen consumed (Moor
procedure, as described by Keys (1930), Clausen (1936), and Spoor (1946))
water of a known oxygen content was passed over the fish in an apparatus
designed to correct the shortcomings of the first described method.
These shortcomings will be discussed later in the Discussion of this paper.
This paper will attempt to show the relative oxygen consumption
of five species of fish found in Kentucky. It is hoped that the data
presented can, at some later date, be correlated to the relative oxygen
requirements of the five species mentioned.
liethod
Since this study is one of relativity, and because of the need for
simplicity in laboratory apparatus, the sealed vessel method was selected.
As aprecursor to the experiment the weisht of each fish was
determined. (See Wei ght Determination Chart).
The five fish were carefully placed so as to introduce as little
oxygen as possible, into 400cc. beakers of 22°C water. The beakers
were filled by siphoning from the fish containing aquarium until
the point of overflow was reached. The pour spouts of the beakers had
been previously blocked off by paraffin facilitating a total fill.
After the introduction of a fish, each beaker was immediately sealed with
aluminum foil and placed on a shelf to remain undisturbed for a period
of eight hours. A sixth beaker, filled and sealed in the same manner,
was used as a control.
Water was then siphoned out of the aquarium and the dissolved
oxygen was determined. A modified iacro Wilikler mthod was used to
fix the oxygen C441cla, 1948). The modification being necessary
because of the small size of the experimental containers. Determinations
• were run on a Baush and Lomb Spectronic 20 Colorimeter with wave settings
at 425 and 450 mu. Readings were taken at both settings because it became
necessary to extrapolate using the 450 mu readings as a base to determine
the high oxygen concentrations which developed during the sece.d part of
the experiment when the water was cooled to 6.3°C.
After a period of eight hours the beakers were unsealed and the
dissolved oxygen concentrations were determined. It must be noted that
,spot checks were made at the beginning and en6 of each experiment to
gauge fish activity, (See Activity Chart).
The rate of oxygen consumption was computed by the following
formulae. The results were expressed in two different Units, ppm /
gm, of fish / hour and cc. / gm of fish / hour.
ppm of 02 of control after 8 hours
—ppm of 02 of fish after 8 hours
ppm of 09 consumed by fish = ppm of
weight of fish
Op
02 consumed / gm. of fish
consumed / gm. of fish = ppm of 02 consumed / gm. of fish / hour
hours
ppm of 02 consumed / gm. of fish / hour
X factor for converting to Cc. (Welch,.1948)
cc. of 02 / gm. of fish i hour cc. of 02 / ml. / gm. of fish /hour
1000
cc. of 02 / m1. / gm, of fish / hour
X 445 / cc. of water in full beaker
total 02 consumed in cc. / gm, of fish / hour
I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. W. L. Hinckley for his
guidance and assistance through out the experiment and Miss Dee
Flamers for her secretarial assistance.
Results
The following results were obtained for the five fish. (See also
Charts 1-5)
0
0
Lepomis cyanellus
Carpiodes carpio
Gambusia affinus
Chaenobryttus gulosus
Fundulus notatus
22 C
1.512 ppm / gm. / hour
.469 cc. / gm. / hour
.147 ppm / gm. / hour
.045 cc. / gm. / hour
.565 ppm / gm. / hour
.173 cc. / gm. / hour
.320 ppm / gm. / hour
.098 cc. / gm. / hour
.468 ppm / gm. / hour
.145 cc. / gm. / hour
6.3 C
.532 ppm / gm. / hour
.165 cc. / gm. / hour
.086 ppm / gm. / hour
.026 cc. / gm. / hour
.293 Mom / gm. / hour
.094 cc. / gm. / hour
.220 ppm / gm. / hour
.068 cc. / gm. / hour
.059 ppm / gm. / hour
.021 cc. / gm. / hour
In both experiments there was an oxygen increase in the control
because of a temperature drop. During the course of the first
experiment the water temperature dropped from 22.0°C to 20.0°3. In
the second experiment the water temperature was purposely lowered to
6.300.. when the fish were put in a refrigerator.
Activity was noted as in the Activity Chart.
Discussion
the
for
and
the
One of the first things that became evident in this experiment was
striking inadequacy of the aluminum foil seal. It was not possible
a total fill to be made because it was impossible to apply the seal
not break the meniscus which caused water to run down the sides of
beaker and air to enter the vessel.
Keys (1930) makes mention of the fact that also adding to the
invalidity of this method is the fact that all the while oxygen is being
consumed carbon dioxide and nitrogen ir! stes are building up. Other
factors which enter into the final analysis are the effects of light
and inherenent fluctuations of activity as discussed by Keys (1930) and
Clausen (1936).
Graphs 1-5 assume that the rate of oxygen consumption was constant
through out the 8 hours. This, of course, may not have been the case,
but for the purpose of this experiment, works well in showing the oxygen
consumed (hi Jells, 1932). The fact that there was a natural rise in the
oxygen concentrations in both experiments does not distract from the
results as this rise was assumed to be equal in each beaker because
of consistent laboratory techniques.
Conclusion
From the results it is obvious, and expectedly so, that all the
fish in the experiment consumed less oxygen in the colder enviornment.
Per gram of weight the green sunfish by far exceeds the others in
oxygen consumption. The possibility of its small size in relation to its
adult size is offered as an explanation for its high metabolic rate.
The Fundulus, also a small fish, consumed the least oxygen per gram.
Its habit of little activity may explain this. The carpsucker, a fish
often found in polluted and low oxygenated waters, was also a low
consumer per gram of weight. The Gambusia, a highly active fish,
was also a fish of high metabolic rate.
The fish tested listed in order of oxygen cosumption per gram of
weight would fall in this order.
1. Lepomis cyanellus
2. Gambusia affinis
3. Chaenobryttus gulosus
Carpiodes carpie
S. FUndulus notatus
I.
Summary
Five species of fish were placed in 400cc. beakers and sealed
with an aluminum foil top for a period of 8 hours at water temperatures
of 22°C and 6.3°C.
Dissolved oxygen concentrations were determined at the beginning
and end of each 8 hour period. A sixth beaker was used as a control.
The difference between the oxygen in the control beaker and that in the
fish beaker was determined to 1-e the oxygen consumed by the fish.
The results were computed as ppm / gm, of fish /hour and cc. / gm.
of fish / hour.
The fish showed consistent rates of consumption and an attempt to
explain these results was made.
GRAPH NO. 1 — LEPOPTIS CYANELLUS
.;' 14400 PM
LEGEND
22cC
- - - - - 6.3°C
............. BASE LINE
12.72 PPM
R
\..••
R"-
0
•
r
r
R
BASE
8.30 PPm
LINE
8.30 Prim
6.40 ppm
6.40 ppm
YAbOV
4.67 PI=
GRAPH NO. 2 — GAMBUSIA AFFINIS
741 14.00
ppm
z
LEGEND
22°C
- - - - - 6.3°C
............. BASE LINE
7
12.35 ppm
7
0‘7
Q0 %4.)\•
% \.)
8.3o ppm
6.40
ppm
7
3AsE
LINE'
13 P% se
MiSUSiA
8.30 PPIn
LI tJ E
• 6.40
ppm
"A1 FFIN/S
5.13 PPM
GRAPH NO. 3 — CARPIODES CARPIO
7 114.00 ppm
LEGEND
22°C
6.3c0
BASE LINE
11.08 ppm
\1
-(
04,
0
r
.00
0S5
\0
R
CI>
,
8430 ppm
13 AS
L
P.4
E
8.30 ppm
6.4 ppm
6.4 ppm
GRAPH NO. 4 — FUNDULUS NOTATUS
,/' 14600 ppm
LEGEND
------
)" 13.81 ppm
0
22 C
6.3e0
................ BASE LINE
<■-)
ROK-;
13 4, 5E
8.30 ppm
c,0
14
6.4 ppm
LAN
U 1..0 5 Ki ceT
8.30 ppm
6.80 ppm
........... 6.4 ppm
GRAPH NO.
LEGEND
- - - -
5 - CHAENOBRYTTUS
GULOSUS
14.00 ppm
220C
6.3°C
................. BASE LINE
0
/
9.94 ppm
-
Ask 0
c‘A P" 8.30 ppm
BASt'
1— 04E.
8.30 ppm
e 6.4 ppm
6.4 pre
2.40 ppm
. WEIGHT DETERMINATION
FISH
WATER
Lepomis cyanellus
261.3 M '
254.0 gms.
265.9 gins.
284.3 PIS*
259.4 gins.
GaMbusia affinis
Carpiodes carpio
Fundulus not atus
Chaenobryttus gulosus
s
WATER AND FISH
FISH
261.6
254.7
270.1
284.7
261.7
,.7 gins.
1.2 gms .
.4 gills.
gins.
gins.
gins.
gins.
gins.
.3 gins.
2.3 gins.
ACTIVITY CHART — 22q0
MODERATE
FISH
Lepomis cyanellus
Gambusia affinis
Carpiodes carpio
Fundulus notatus
Chaenobryttus Gulosus
X
X
X
ACTIVE
X
X
ACTIVITY CHART — 6.30C
INACTIVE
FISH
Lepomis cyanellus
Gambusia af inis
Carpiodes carpio
Fundulus notatus
Chaenobryttus gulosus
MODERATE
ACTIVE
X
X
X
X
X
References
Hack Chemical Co., Water and Sewage Analysis Methods Manual for Spectronic 20
Colorimeter.: 1-22.
Welch, Paul
S.,
1948. Limnological Methods. Country Life Press, N. Y.: 206-209.
Clausen, R. G., 1936. 02 Consumption in Fresh Water Fisher. Ecology, Vol. 17
216—
Keys, A. B., 1930. The Measurement of the Respitory Exchange of Aquatic Animals.
Biological Bulletin: 187-198.
Moore, W. G., 1942. Field Studies on the Oxygen Requirements of Certain Fresh
Water Fishes. Ecology, Vol. 28: 319-329,
Spoor, W. A., 1946. Activity and 02 Consumption. Biological Bulletin, Vol. 91
312-325.
-
Wells, N. A., 1932. The Importance of the Time Element in the Determination
of the Respitory Metabolism of Fishes. Proceedings of the National Academy
of Science, Vol. 18: 580-585.