Continued Water Tunnel Studies with Tuna at Kewalo Basin, Hawaii

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Preliminary studies have demonstrated the feasibility and experimental utility of studying the swimming of skipjack and yellowfin tunas using a large water tunnel located at the National Marine Fisheries Service Laboratory in Hawaii. This project will conduct a detailed study of the numerous and diverse swimming specializations of these powerful and exquisitely designed fishes. Specifically, the investigators will: i) carry out measurements of tuna swimming metabolic rate and thus describe their locomotion energetics, ii) monitor aspects of tuna in vivo swimming physiology and thereby determine how these fishes regulate and sustain their aerobic metabolism, and iii) examine various aspects of the tuna's swimming kinematics and specialized locomotor anatomy and the augmentation of swimming mechanics and efficiency. This investigation will provide the first direct measurements on tunas, swimming at controlled speeds, of variables ranging from swimming metabolism in relation to body size, swimming cardiovascular physiology as determined by blood pressures, heart rate, arterial-venous O2 differences, and calculation (by Fick) of cardiac output and stoke volume. These studies will also provide the first controlled speed analyses of tuna swimming kinematics and biomechanics, including caudal force and thrust generation, and surface-flow visualization.