The effect of thermal acclimation on aerobic scope and critical swimming speed in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar

The Atlantic salmon is extensively studied owing to conservation concerns and its economic importance in aquaculture. However, a thorough report of their aerobic capacity throughout their entire thermal niche has not been described. In this study, Atlantic salmon (similar to 450 g) were acclimated for 4 weeks at 3, 8, 13, 18 or 23 degrees C, and then tested in a large Brett-type swimming respirometer in groups of 10 per trial. Both standard metabolic rate and active metabolic rate continued to increase with temperature, which resulted in an aerobic scope that also increased with temperature, but was statistically similar between 13, 18 and 23 degrees C. The critical swimming speed peaked at 18 degrees C (93.1 +/- 1.2 cm s(-1)), and decreased significantly at the extreme temperatures to 74.8 +/- 0.5 and 84.8 +/- 1.6 cm s(-1) at 3 and 23 degrees C, respectively. At 23 degrees C, the accumulated mortality reached 20% over 4 weeks, while no fish died during acclimation at colder temperatures. Furthermore, fish at 23 degrees C had poor appetite and lower condition factor despite still having a high aerobic scope, suggesting that oxygen uptake was not the limiting factor in the upper thermal niche boundary. In conclusion, Atlantic salmon were able to maintain a high aerobic capacity and good swimming capabilities throughout the entire thermal interval tested, thus demonstrating a high level of flexibility in respiratory capacity towards different temperature exposures.