FishResp: R package and GUI application for analysis of aquatic respirometry data

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Ecology
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• Intermittent-flow respirometry is crucial for estimating aquatic animal metabolic rates.
• Lack of standardized quality control software hinders cross-study comparisons in evolutionary and conservation physiology.

Purpose of the Study:

• Introduce 'FishResp', an R package for quality control and filtering of respirometry data.
• Provide a free, user-friendly tool to enhance data quality and comparability in aquatic respirometry.

Main Methods:

• FishResp accepts data from diverse respirometry systems.
• Identifies mechanical problems (e.g., leaks, poor circulation) and offers six methods for microbial background correction.
• Filters raw data based on user-defined criteria.

Main Results:

• FishResp produces accurate and unbiased estimates of metabolic rates.
• Demonstrated utility with three-spined sticklebacks and Trinidadian guppies.
• Highlights the importance of detecting mechanical issues and correcting for background respiration.

Conclusions:

• FishResp addresses methodological fragmentation in aquatic respirometry.
• Facilitates more reliable and comparable metabolic rate estimations.
• Supports advancements in evolutionary and conservation physiology research.