THE LINK BETWEEN RESPIRATORY CAPACITY AND CHANGING METABOLIC DEMANDS DURING GROWTH OF NORTHERN PIKE, ESOX-LUCIUS L

The relationship between metabolic rate of pike (Y, mgO2) and body weight (X, g) over the range 40–1291 gat 15° C is of the form: Y=aXb. For resting metabolic rate (Vo2, rest), the scaling coefficient, b, is 0.80 and for maximum metabolic rate measured after exhaustive swimming (V02, max), b is 0.99. Factorial metabolic scope (V02, max/ V02, rest) increases with body weight. Peak postprandial oxygen consumption (V02, ASDA) is a constant multiple of V02 rest for any discrete meal (expressed as % of body weight) up to 10% body weight. V02ASDA after a single meal can utilize the entire metabolic scope (V02, max—V02, rest) of juvenile but not adult pike. Copyright © 1992, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved