Abstract:

This study examined the relationship between an individual's sociability and metabolic activity. Wild caught croaker were acclimated to the lab and then placed in an exploration/sociability assay in which they explored a novel arena for 15 minutes by themselves then dividers were removed to expose 3 unfamiliar fish and sociability was measured for 20 minutes. After aerobic scope for each fish was taken using a standard chase method they were placed into an intermittent flow respirometry system.

Suggested Citation:

Khursigara, A., Esbaugh, A.. 2018. Atlantic croaker group exploration, sociability, and aerobic scope. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/n7-82qs-ev48

Purpose:

Investigate how oil exposure may influence group shoaling behavior.

Data Parameters and Units:

Croaker Data Sheets.xlsx: Test Conditions Table indicates S. occelatus were studies; however, this is incorrect. Only M. undulatus were studied. Tank ID Dilution or Stock Code worksheet: Tank ID Dilution or Stock Code, Start Date, Start time, End Date, End time, Nominal Treatment Concentration, Treatment Units (%), Group Number, Notes. Water Quality Monitoring worksheet: Tank ID Dilution or Stock Code, Date, Time, Period (hours), Water temp. (degrees Celsius), pH (S.U.), Salinity (ppt), Total Ammonia (uM). croaker_data.xlsx: Date (mm/dd/yyyy), PIT (individual id number from PIT tag), Color (B: blue, R: red, Y: yellow, G: green, O: orange, P: purple), TL: total length (cm), SL: standard length (cm), Mass (g). Control Croaker Metabolic Activity.xlsx: Date and time, Chamber, wet weight (grams), Resp. volume (mL), Chamber notes (fish ID), Time (seconds), Loop (1 cycle of a flush, wait, and measuring period), phase time (seconds), CH # MO2 (mgO2/kg/hr), CH # slope (%air sat./hr), CH # R^2, CH # max O2 (%air sat.), CH # min O2 (%air sat.), CH # avg O2 (%air sat.), CH # avg temp (degrees C).

Methods:

Prior to being used, croaker were anesthetized with 0.25 g MS-222 (buffered in 0.5 NAHCO3) before being PIT tagged with “MiniHPT8” tags. While anesthetized, fish were tagged with a bead and mass, standard length, and total length was taken. After recovery and the open field test, individuals were placed into an aerobic scope test. Briefly, fish were chased for 3 minutes, air exposed for 1 min and placed into an intermittent flow respirometry flow system for 24 h. Cycles comprised of 6 minute measuring periods, 3 minute flushing period and a 1 minute wait period. Four focal fish were tested per day. Only 1 fish per chamber in the respirometry system. There were 4 fish per tank in the sociability portion of the study. The tank for sociability was broken into 3 areas, a side chamber on either side of the center arena. Three unfamiliar fish were placed in a side chamber prior to the focal fish being placed in the center arena. The focal fish in the sociability tests are the ones run through respirometry. A loop is 1 cycle of a flush, wait, and measuring period.

Instruments:

PIT TAGs, Respirometry system, Aquaresp

Error Analysis:

All data was run through a general mixed model.

Individual Files: