TY - JOUR

T1 - Optimum temperature of a northern population of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) using heart rate Arrhenius breakpoint analysis

AU - Hansen, Aslak Kappel

AU - Byriel, David Bille

AU - R. Jensen, Mads

AU - Steffensen, John Fleng

AU - Svendsen, Morten Bo Søndergaard

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - Assessment of maximum aerobic scope, as a proxy for scope of activity, in ectotherms can be instrumental in predicting distributional responses to e.g. global warming. The waters of the Arctic regions represent one of the most vulnerable ecosystems to climate change. In this study, we determine the optimum temperature (Topt) of nine adult Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) from Qeqertarsuaq, Greenland, using maximum heart rate (fHmax) for investigating the optimal temperatures for activity. The Arrhenius breakpoint of maximum heart rate measurements occurred between 5.9 and 8.3 °C (average = 7.5 °C ± 0.4). The Q10 breakpoint occurred at an average of 7.1 °C ± 0.3. There was no significant difference between the breakpoint temperature found using Q10 and Arrhenius [two-sample t test, df = 16; p > 0.1]. The highest fHmax was found at 12.8 °C ± 1.0 reaching an average of 61.8 BPM ± 3.1. Arrhythmia occurred between 11 and 18 °C (average = 15.2 °C ± 0.9). The results obtained in this study suggest that the studied population of Arctic charr lives at summer temperatures (−0.6 to 9.1 °C) that are optimal for activity, but an increase in temperature expected with climate change, could have an impact on life cycle events and fitness-related tasks for this northern population.

AB - Assessment of maximum aerobic scope, as a proxy for scope of activity, in ectotherms can be instrumental in predicting distributional responses to e.g. global warming. The waters of the Arctic regions represent one of the most vulnerable ecosystems to climate change. In this study, we determine the optimum temperature (Topt) of nine adult Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) from Qeqertarsuaq, Greenland, using maximum heart rate (fHmax) for investigating the optimal temperatures for activity. The Arrhenius breakpoint of maximum heart rate measurements occurred between 5.9 and 8.3 °C (average = 7.5 °C ± 0.4). The Q10 breakpoint occurred at an average of 7.1 °C ± 0.3. There was no significant difference between the breakpoint temperature found using Q10 and Arrhenius [two-sample t test, df = 16; p > 0.1]. The highest fHmax was found at 12.8 °C ± 1.0 reaching an average of 61.8 BPM ± 3.1. Arrhythmia occurred between 11 and 18 °C (average = 15.2 °C ± 0.9). The results obtained in this study suggest that the studied population of Arctic charr lives at summer temperatures (−0.6 to 9.1 °C) that are optimal for activity, but an increase in temperature expected with climate change, could have an impact on life cycle events and fitness-related tasks for this northern population.

KW - Aerobic scope

KW - Climate change

KW - Heart rate

KW - Optimum temperature

KW - Oxygen transport

KW - Salvelinus alpinus

U2 - 10.1007/s00300-016-2033-8

DO - 10.1007/s00300-016-2033-8

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:84988643625

VL - 40

SP - 1063

EP - 1070

JO - Polar Biology

JF - Polar Biology

SN - 0722-4060

IS - 5

ER -