Allometric relationship between body mass and aerobic metabolism in zebrafish Danio rerio

Abstract

The relationship between body mass (M) and metabolic rate was investigated through the assessment of active (R(A)) and standard (R(S)) metabolic rate at different life stages in zebrafish Danio rerio (5 day-old larvae, 2 month-old juveniles and 6 month-old adults). Scaling exponents and constants were assessed for standard (R(S) = 0·273M(0·965) in mgO(2) g(-1) h(-1)) and active metabolic rate (R(A) = 0·799M(0·926) in mgO(2) g(-1) h(-1)). These data provide the basis for further experiments regarding the effects of environmental factors on aerobic metabolism throughout the life cycle of this species.

Keywords: active metabolic rate; allometric scaling exponent; standard metabolic rate; static respirometry.