Life in a warm deep sea: routine activity and burst swimming performance of the shrimp Acanthephyra eximia in the abyssal Mediterranean

Bailey, D.M. , Bagley, P.M., Jamieson, A.J., Cromarty, A., Collins, M.A., Tselepidis, A. and Priede, I.G. (2005) Life in a warm deep sea: routine activity and burst swimming performance of the shrimp Acanthephyra eximia in the abyssal Mediterranean. Marine Biology, 146(6), pp. 1199-1206. (doi:10.1007/s00227-004-1525-1)

Abstract

Measurements of routine swimming speed, "tail-flip'' escape responses, and oxygen consumptions were made of the deep-sea shrimp Acanthephyra eximia using autonomous landers in the Rhodos Basin at depths of up to 4,400 m and temperatures of 13 - 14.5 degrees C. Routine swimming speeds at 4,200 m averaged 0.18 m s(-1) or 3.09 body lengths s(-1), approximately double those of functionally similar oceanic scavengers. During escape responses peak accelerations of 23 m s(-2) or 630.6 body lengths s(-2) were recorded, with animals reaching speeds of 1.61 m s(-1) or 34.8 body lengths s(-2). When compared to shallow-water decapods at similar temperatures these values are low for a lightly calcified shrimp such as A. eximia despite a maximum muscle mass specific power output of 90.0 W kg(-1). A preliminary oxygen consumption measurement indicated similar rates to those of oceanic crustacean scavengers and shallower-living Mediterranean crustaceans once size and temperature had been taken into account. These animals appear to have high routine swimming speeds but low burst muscle performances. This suite of traits can be accounted for by high competition for limited resources in the eastern Mediterranean, but low selective pressure for burst swimming due to reductions in predator pressure.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com
• Keywords: OXYGEN-CONSUMPTION; METABOLIC-RATES; TEMPERATURE RESISTANCE; PHENOTYPIC PLASTICITY; THERMAL-ACCLIMATION; MUSCLE MITOCHONDRIA; ESCAPE PERFORMANCE; PACIFIC-OCEAN; FISH; AMPHIPODS
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Bailey, Dr David
• Authors: Bailey, D.M., Bagley, P.M., Jamieson, A.J., Cromarty, A., Collins, M.A., Tselepidis, A., and Priede, I.G.
• Subjects: Q Science > QL Zoology; Q Science > QP Physiology
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
• Journal Name: Marine Biology
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 0025-3162
• ISSN (Online): 1432-1793
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2005 Springer
• First Published: First published in Marine Biology 146(6):1199-1206
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.