Fast-Start Performance of Rainbow Trout Salmo Gairdneri and Northern Pike Esox Lucius

1990 ◽  
Vol 150 (1) ◽  
pp. 321-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAVID G. HARPER ◽  
ROBERT W. BLAKE

The escape performances of rainbow trout Salmo gairdneri (Richardson) and northern pike Esox lucius (Linnaeus) (mean lengths 0.32 m and 0.38 m, respectively) were measured with subcutaneously implanted accelerometers. Acceleration-time plots reveal two types of fast-starts for trout and three for pike. Simultaneous high-speed ciné films demonstrate a kinematic basis for these differences. Trout performing C-shaped fast-starts produce a unimodal acceleration-time plot (type I) while during S-shaped fast-starts a bimodal accelerationtime plot (type II) results. Pike also exhibit similar type I and II fast-starts, but also execute a second S-shaped fast-start that does not involve a net change of direction. This is characterized by a trimodal acceleration-time plot (type III). Intraspecific and interspecific comparisons of distance, time, mean and maximum velocity, and mean and maximum acceleration rate indicate that fast-start performance is significantly higher for pike than for trout, for all performance parameters. This indicates that performance is related to body form. Overall mean maximum acceleration rates for pike were 120.2±20.0 ms−2 and 59.7±8.3 ms−2 for trout. Performance values directly measured from the accelerometers exceed those previously reported. Maximum acceleration rates for single events reach 97.8ms−2 and 244.9ms−2 for trout and pike, respectively. Maximum final velocities of 7.06ms−2 (18.95 Ls−2) were observed for pike and 4.19 ms−2 (13.09 Ls−2) for trout, where L is body length; overall mean maximum velocities were 2.77 ms−2 for trout and 3.97 ms−2 for pike.

1978 ◽  
Vol 35 (11) ◽  
pp. 1417-1422 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. W. Webb

Acceleration performance during and immediately following fast-starts was measured at 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 °C for rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) of mean mass 23.5 g. Fast-start responses were initiated by an electric shock stimulus. Temperature had little effect on fast-start kinematics. Response latency and duration of propulsion strokes decreased with temperature. Latencies decreased from 23 ms at 5 °C to 6 ms at 25 °C. Times to complete the first two principal acceleration strokes in a fast-start decreased from 116 ms at 5 °C to 65 ms at 25 °C. Distance traveled in a given time increased with temperature. For an elapsed time of 100 ms, the distance traveled was 3.5 cm at 5 °C increasing to 11.3 cm at 25 °C. Velocity increased with time at each temperature to reach maximum values by the end of the third propulsive stroke and thereafter declining. Maximum velocity increased with temperature from 0.99 m∙s−1 at 5 °C to 1.71 m∙s−1 at 15 °C. Maximum velocity was independent of temperature from 15 to 25 °C. Similar trends were found for maximum acceleration rate which increased from 16 m∙s−2 at 5 °C to 41 m∙s−2 over the 15–25 °C range. Temperature effects on acceleration performance would alter the ability of fish to traverse short areas of high velocity flow, the effectiveness of predators, and vulnerability of prey fish. Key words: trout, acceleration, swimming, fast-start, temperature, predation, locomotion


1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 578-582 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Kurt Gamperl ◽  
Dan L. Schnurr ◽  
E. Don Stevens

Fast-start acceleration performance of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) was measured after 9 weeks of sprint training (30°s duration, every 2nd day). Response latency and time required to complete the first two stages of a fast start were unaffected by the sprint-training protocol. Maximum acceleration (trained 1985 ± 176 (SE) cm/s2; control 1826 ± 144 cm/s2) and maximum velocity (trained 130 ± 7 cm/s; control 134 ± 14 cm/s) were also not significantly different following training. However, trained fish reached high rates of acceleration before control (untrained) fish. Thus, acceleration was higher in trained fish from 20 to 35 ms postshock. When fish are separated by start type, trained fish consistently had greater acceleration than control fish between 30 and 45 ms postshock. Alterations in fast-start performance due to sprint training may improve predator avoidance ability. Sprint training did not change critical swimming speed as measured using two separate protocols.


1976 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. W. Webb

The fast-start (acceleration) performance of seven groups of rainbow trout from 9-6 to 38-7 cm total length was measured in response to d.c. electric shock stimuli. Two fast-start kinematic patterns, L- and S-start were observed. In L-starts the body was bent into an L or U shape and a recoil turn normally accompanied acceleration. Free manoeuvre was not possible in L-starts without loss of speed. In S-starts the body was bent into an S-shape and fish accelerated without a recoil turn. The frequency of S-starts increased with size from 0 for the smallest fish to 60–65% for the largest fish. Acceleration turns were common. The radius of smallest turn for both fast-start patterns was proportional to length (L) with an overall radius of 0–17 L. The duration of the primary acceleration stages increased with size from 0–07 s for the group of smallest fish to 0–10 s for the group of largest fish. Acceleration rates were independent of size. The overall mean maximum rate was 3438 cm/s2 and the average value to the end of the primary acceleration movements was 1562 cm/s2. The distance covered and velocity attained after a given time for fish accelerating from rest were independent of size. The results are discussed in the context of interactions between a predator and prey fish following initial approach by the predator. It is concluded that the outcome of an interaction is likely to depend on reaction times of interacting fish responding to manoeuvres initiated by the predator or prey. The prey reaction time results in the performance of the predator exceeding that of the prey at any instant. The predator reaction time and predator error in responses to unpredictable prey manoeuvre are required for prey escape. It is predicted that a predator should strike the prey within 0-1 s if the fish are initially 5–15 cm apart as reported in the literature for predator-prey interactions. These distances would be increased for non-optimal prey escape behaviour and when the prey body was more compressed or depressed than the predator.


1978 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. W. WEBB

Fast-start kinematics and performance were determined for Etheostoma caeruleum, Cottus cognatus, Notropis cornutus, Lepomis macrochirus, Perca flavescens, Salmo gairdneri and a hybrid Esox sp. at an acclimation and test temperature of 15 °C. Normal three-stage kinematic patterns were observed for all species. Fast-start movements were similar in all species, except Lepomis, which had slightly higher amplitudes than expected for its length. The duration of kinematic stages was a major variable among the seven species but was a linear function of length. Acceleration rates were not functions of size. Maximum acceleration rates ranged from 22-7 to 39-5 m. s−2 with mean rates from 6.1 to 12.3 m.s−2 averaged to the completion of kinematic stage 2. Maximum velocity and distance covered in each fast-start stage varied among species but were related to length. Fast-start performance depended primarily on compromise between muscle mass as a percentage of body mass, and lateral body and fin profile. Optimal profiles provide large depth distant from the centre of mass to maximize thrust, and anterior depth enhancement to minimize recoil. The body form of Lepomis is considered optimal for multiple swimming modes.


1991 ◽  
Vol 155 (1) ◽  
pp. 175-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAVID G. HARPER ◽  
ROBERT W. BLAKE

Fast-start performance of northern pike Esox lucius (mean length, 0.38m) during prey capture was measured with subcutaneously implanted accelerometers. Acceleration-time plots and simultaneous high-speed ciné films reveal four behaviours with characteristic kinematics and mechanics. The fast-start types are identified by the number of large peaks that appear in the acceleration-time and velocity-time data. Comparisons of mean performance were made between each type of feeding fast-start. Type I fast-starts were of significantly shorter duration (0.084 s) and displacement (0.132 m) than type III (0.148 s and 0.235 m) and type IV (0.189 s and 0.306 m) behaviours, and higher mean and maximum acceleration (38.6 and 130.3 ms−2, respectively) than type II (26.6 and 95.8 ms−2), type III (22.0 and 91.2 ms−2) and type IV (18.0 and 66.6 m s−2) behaviours. The type II behaviours were of shorter duration (0.115 s) and displacement (0.173 m) and of higher mean acceleration than type IV fast-starts, and were also of significantly shorter duration than type III behaviours. Prey-capture performance was compared to escapes by the same individuals. When data are combined, regardless of mechanical type, mean acceleration (37.6 vs25.5ms−2), maximum acceleration (120.2 vs 95.9ms−2), mean velocity (1.90 vs 1.57 ms−1) and maximum velocity (3.97 vs 3.09 ms−1) were found to be larger and duration shorter (0.108 vs 0.133 s) during escapes than during prey capture. No differences were found through independent comparisons of the performance of feeding and escape types II and III, but type I escapes had significantly higher mean velocity (2.27 vs 1.58 ms−1), maximum velocity (4.70 vs 3.12 ms−1) and mean acceleration (54.7 vs 38.6 ms−2) than type II feeding behaviours. Prey-capture performance was also related to prey size, apparent prey size (defined as the angular size of the prey on the pike's retina) and strike distance (the distance from the pike to the prey at the onset of the fast-start). Mean and maximum acceleration increased with apparent size and decreased with strike distance, while the duration of the event increased with strike distance and decreased with apparent size. No relationship was found between the actual prey size and any performance parameter. Strike distance ranged from 0.087 to 0.439 m and decreased as the apparent size increased from 2.6 to 9.9° (r2=0.75). The type I behaviour was usually employed when the strike distance was small and the prey appeared large. As strike distance increased and apparent size decreased, there was a progressive selection of type II, then III and then IV behaviours.


1977 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. W. WEBB

Fast-start performance of eight groups of rainbow trout with various finrays removed was measured to test the hydromechanical theory (Weihs, 1973) that large fins are required for acceleration. A trend towards decreasing performance was found for the following sequence of fin-ray amputations: control (pelvic rays amputated); dorsal fin; anal fin; dorsal lobe of caudal fin and ventral lobe of caudal fin; ventral lobe of caudal fin and anal fin; dorsal and ventral lobes of caudal fin; both caudal-fin lobes and anal fin. The series represents progressive reduction in fin and body area, as well as reduction in these areas where lateral movements are largest. Effects of fin amputation on performance were statistically significant (P > 0.05) in comparison with controls only for the last three groups lacking the caudal fin. The results confirm the hydromechanical theory, and lead to the conclusion that mechanically optimum lateral body profiles for faststart and for steady (cruising and sprint) performance are mutually exclusive. This mechanical restriction can be circumvented only in bony fish, with the evolution of flexible, collapsible fins that permit major variation in lateral body profile.


1971 ◽  
Vol 28 (11) ◽  
pp. 1801-1804 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. McCauley ◽  
W. L. Pond

Preferred temperatures of underyearling rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) were determined in both vertical and horizontal temperature gradients. No statistically significant difference was found between the preferred temperatures by the two different methods. This suggests that the nature of the gradient plays a lesser role than generally believed in laboratory investigations of temperature preference.


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