Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 20, 2026
05:41
Metabolic Profile Analysis of Zebrafish Embryos
Published on: January 14, 2013
20.6K
Exploring metabolism-growth relationships within and across individual fish
Elizabeth C Hoots1, Luis L Kuchenmüller1, Peter A Biro1
1School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
Summary
Individual fish metabolism and growth rates are highly plastic, varying significantly over time and influenced by temperature. Maximum metabolic rate, not standard or routine rates, correlated with growth, highlighting the importance of within-individual variability in physiology.
Area of Science:
- Comparative Physiology
- Ecological Physiology
- Animal Ecology
Background:
- Individual differences in animal growth and metabolism impact survival and reproduction.
- Research has focused on among-individual variability, with less attention on within-individual temporal variability.
- Understanding both types of variability is crucial for predicting individual performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate among- and within-individual variabilities in fish metabolism and growth.
- To determine the relative contributions of metabolic variability to growth.
- To assess the thermal dependence of these variabilities in the estuarine fish Galaxias maculatus.
Main Methods:
- Collected five repeated measurements of metabolism (standard, routine, maximum) and mass over five months.
- Studied 160 fish assigned to two temperature treatments: 18℃ and 23℃.
- Assessed reproductive maturity rates at different temperatures.
Main Results:
- Among-individual variability in metabolic parameters was low and not affected by temperature.
- Reproductive maturity was significantly higher at 18℃ (98%) than 23℃ (62%).
- Individual growth rate was positively correlated with maximum metabolic rate but not standard or routine rates.
Conclusions:
- Growth and metabolic rates exhibit high plasticity over time, influenced by temperature, life stage, and interactions.
- Within-individual variability in maximum metabolic rate is a key factor influencing growth.
- Temperature significantly impacts reproductive success and growth rates in Galaxias maculatus.
Related Concept Videos
00:57Population Growth
29.4K
Population size is dynamic, increasing with birth rates and immigration, and decreasing with death rates and emigration. In ideal conditions with unlimited resources, populations can increase exponentially, which plots as a J-shaped growth rate curve of population size against time. This type of curve is characteristic of newly-introduced invasive species, or populations that have suffered catastrophic declines and are rebounding.
29.4K
01:26Derivatives: Problem Solving
140
Temperature-Dependent Growth of Brook TroutThe growth of brook trout is closely influenced by water temperature. Experimental data demonstrate how trout weight changes over a 24-day period in response to varying water temperatures. At lower temperatures, such as 15.5 degrees Celsius, brook trout show significant weight gain. However, as the temperature increases, the amount of weight gained steadily decreases. At the highest temperature measured, 24.4 degrees Celsius, trout experience a net...
140
01:27Growth Models with Integration: Problem Solving
85
In population modeling, integration provides a systematic way to determine accumulated quantities from known rates of change. One such application arises in ecology, where the total weight of a fish population in a body of water is referred to as its biomass. When the rate of growth of this biomass is known as a function of time, calculus can be used to determine the total biomass at a future date.Growth Rate and Biomass FunctionLet the growth rate of the fish population be represented by a...
85
01:30Designing Growth Media for Bioreactors
1
Growth media provide essential nutrients that support cell growth and metabolism, thereby enhancing the yield of valuable products such as enzymes, antibiotics, and biomass. Designing an effective growth medium involves balancing all components to prevent nutrient limitations or toxic excesses, both of which can impair growth and reduce product yields.Composition of a Typical Growth MediumA typical growth medium contains carbon and nitrogen sources, salts, vitamins, trace elements, and...
1
02:32Osmoregulation in Fishes
54.7K
When cells are placed in a hypotonic (low-salt) fluid, they can swell and burst. Meanwhile, cells in a hypertonic solution—with a higher salt concentration—can shrivel and die. How do fish cells avoid these gruesome fates in hypotonic freshwater or hypertonic seawater environments?
54.7K
01:29Oxygen Requirements and Growth Patterns
2.2K
Microorganisms exhibit diverse oxygen requirements and growth patterns driven by their metabolic strategies and environmental adaptations. Oxygen, while essential for many organisms, can also be toxic under certain conditions, shaping how microorganisms grow and survive.Oxygen Requirements of MicroorganismsMicroorganisms are classified based on their ability to use or tolerate oxygen:● Obligate aerobes like Mycobacterium tuberculosis need oxygen for energy production, as it serves as the...
2.2K