Plasticity in fish cardiorespiratory function and metabolism

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In all vertebrates, the cardiorespiratory system (lungs/gills, heart, blood, blood vessels) is critical to survival because it ensures adequate oxygen and nutrient delivery to the tissues, and removes carbon dioxide and other metabolic wastes. However, we are far from completely understanding how life-style, activity level and body form/shape interact to determine cardiorespiratory design and physiology, or the capacity of the cardiorespiratory system to deal with environmental or other challenges. The proposed research program will provide a comprehensive and integrative (from whole animal to cellular) view of numerous aspects of fish cardiorespiratory physiology, and of the fish's capacity to deal with 2 very important environmental factors (temperature, and hypoxia). Of particular novelty, is the incorporation of aspects of fish development into investigations of metabolic depression, the partitioning of cellular/mitochondrial oxygen consumption, and hypoxia and thermal tolerance. Given that larval fish have a unique physiology and ecology, very limited energetic capacity, and different selection pressures than adult fish, it is not surprising that this is a 'critical' period of development where mortality is highest. The proposed research will allow us to predict how environmental change influences the larvae of North Atlantic fish populations, and thus improve our ability to manage marine species for sustainable harvesting and conservation purposes. Further, it will provide comprehensive data on the physiology of the cunner (Tautogolabrus apersus). This is a fish species that lives along the North Atlantic coastline, among rocks and dock pilings etc. As such, it is being considered for monitoring as a sentinel species for assessing human-related environmental impact or damage. This study will supply important physiological information that will provide a framework for future work in this area.