Abstract
Over the last decade, ocean temperature in the U.S. Northeast Continental Shelf (U.S. NES) has warmed faster than the global average and is associated with observed distribution changes of the northern stock of black sea bass (Centropristis striata). Mechanistic models based on physiological responses to environmental conditions can improve future habitat suitability projections. We measured maximum (MMR), resting metabolic rate (RMR), and hypoxia tolerance (Scrit) of the northern adult black sea bass stock to assess performance across the known temperature range of the species. A subset of individuals was held at 30°C for one month (30chronic°C) prior to experiments to test acclimation potential. MMR and absolute aerobic scope (AAS = MMR-RMR) reached a maximum at 24.4°C (AS: 367.21 mgO2 kg-1 hr-1) while Scrit continued to increase in proportion to RMR up to 30°C. The 30chronic°C group had a significant decrease in MMR and AAS but RMR or Scrit were not affected. This suggests a decline in performance of oxygen demand processes (e.g. muscle contraction) beyond 24°C despite maintenance of oxygen supply. The Metabolic Index, calculated from Scrit as an estimate of potential aerobic scope, closely matched the measured factorial aerobic scope (FAS = MMR/RMR) and declined with increasing temperature to a minimum below 3. This may represent a critical value for the species. Temperature in the U.S. NES is projected to increase above 24°C in the southern portion of the northern stock’s range. Therefore, these black sea bass will likely continue to shift north as the ocean continues to warm.
Summary Statement Laboratory-based physiological studies focused on aerobic scope and hypoxia tolerance of black sea bass presented here support the recently observed poleward shift of their range on the U.S. Northeast Shelf.
List of Abbreviations
- AAS
- Absolute aerobic scope
- FAS
- Factorial aerobic scope
- MO2
- Oxygen consumption rate
- MO2adj
- Adjusted oxygen consumption rate
- MO2br
- Background oxygen consumption rate
- MMR
- Maximum metabolic rate
- RMR
- Resting metabolic rate
- Scrit
- Critical oxygen saturation
- SMR
- Standard metabolic rate
- %O2
- Oxygen saturation