Abstract:
Fingerlings of tilapia were used to compare
the oxygen consumption rates at 0, 10, 20 and 30 ppt
salinity. Oxygen consumption of tilapia at 0, 10, 20
and 30 ppt salinity was found 2.14, 0.71, 1.43 and
1.42 ml/liter/h respectively. Oxygen consumption rate
thereafter decreased with increasing salinity,
although the lowest consumption occurred at 10 ppt.
Lower consumption at high salinities might be a
result of reduced activity, which in itself was salinitymodulated.
The fish in this study were in or near a
resting state, and that differences in oxygen
consumption rates probably were related to the
energetic cost of ionic and osmotic regulation. Again,
mechanism in the fill tissue might involve significant
energy-consuming processes in different water
salinities compared to fresh water.
