Respiratory Responses of Winter Flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) to Hypoxia.

Abstract

The burning of fossils fuels and the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide is causing major changes in the world's oceans. Changes such as increased temperatures and the acidification of marine environments, both of which lower the dissolved oxygen making these environments hypoxic. Long Island Sound (LIS) is no exception, with changes in the distribution of species in the Sound already being seen. Winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) are a native fish species to LIS, In this study, Winter flounder were acclimated to 10°, 15°, and 20° C and exposed to various oxygen level concentration ~8 mg/L at normoxia all the way down to ~1 mg/L of O2 (severe hypoxia). Observations of behavioral responses such as depth of ventilation, heads-up behavior, horizontal and vertical movements, and air-gulping air were made. The Opercular rate was also determined for various oxygen concentration.