Modelling energetic costs of fish swimming

The oxygen consumption rates of two cyprinid fishes, carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) and roach (Rutilus rutilus (L.)), were analysed for a wide range of body mass and swimming speed by computerized intermittent-flow respirometry. Bioenergetic models were derived, based on fish mass (M) and swimming speed (U), to predict the minimal speed and mass-specific active metabolic rate (AMR) in these fishes (AMR = aM(b)U(c)). Mass and speed together explained more than 90% of the variance in total swimming costs in both cases. The derived models show that carp consume far more oxygen at a specific speed and body mass, thus being less efficient in energy use during swimming than roach. It was further found that in carp (AMR = 0.02M(0.8)U(0.95)) the metabolic increment during swimming is more strongly effected by speed, whereas in roach (AMR = 0.02M(0.93)U(0.6)) it is more strongly effected by body mass. The different swimming traits of carp and roach are suitable for their respective lifestyles and ecological demands.