Aerobic muscle function during steady swimming in fish

Abstract

Axial swimming in fish varies across a range of body forms and swimming modes. Swimming by eels, tunas, mackerels, scup, rainbow trout and bass span this range from high curvature anguilliform swimmers to rigid body thunniform swimmers. Recent work on these and other species has elucidated an impressive array of solutions to the problem of how to use the red (aerobic, slow‐twitch) muscle to power steady or sustained swimming. This review will use a comparative approach to understand the generalities of aerobic muscle function during steady swimming in fish and determine possible rules for the relationships between muscle contractile kinetics, in vivo muscle activity and power output during swimming. Beyond an exploration of the diversity in muscle activity and swimming kinematics, I suggest that analysis of the molecular basis for longitudinal variations in muscle function is needed to complement morphological and physiological research on fish muscle. This will permit both a general understanding of the integrative function of the fish myotome and, perhaps, predictive tools for muscle activity and swimming performance in fish.

Optimal shape and motion of undulatory swimming organisms

“…Mathematical models of muscle behaviour during swimming have mostly been developed to study the muscle response to a given neural activation [9][10][11][12], with model parameters being often fine-tuned for particular species [12][13][14]. The actuation-response relationship varies widely among species [15][16][17], making these models unsuitable for the optimization of morphological traits of a generic organism. Furthermore, these models do not provide information about metabolic energy consumption, which is a critical component of swimming energetics.…”

Patterns of red muscle strain/activation and body kinematics during steady swimming in a lamnid shark, the shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus)

“…Previous studies have examined the role of skeletal muscle in the mechanics of steady swimming of a number of bony fish species (reviewed in Altringham and Ellerby, 1999;Coughlin, 2002). Specifically, temporal patterns of red muscle (RM) shortening and activation recorded during swimming bouts have been used to infer functional properties of the RM along the body (Williams et al, 1989;van Leeuwen et al, 1990;Rome et al, 1993;Wardle and Videler, 1993;Jayne and Lauder, 1995b;Gillis, 1998;Hammond et al, 1998;Shadwick et al, 1998;Ellerby and Altringham, 2001;Knower et al, 1999).…”

Morphology of the epaxial musculature and osteological development of the early developmental stages of softmouth trout (Salmothymus obtusirostris, Heckel, 1851)

“…The TL of S. obtusirostris increased from 19.57 to 25.80 mm between 10-56 dph. Considering the fact that the larva's ability to move is related to its size (SPIERTS, 2001), it should be noted that there is also a relationship to feeding (GALLOWAY et al, 1999;COUGHLIN, 2002).…”

“…There are separate muscles along the fins and head bones. The major part of the trunk and tail muscles consists of white muscle fibres used for forceful and rapid contractions during hunting of prey or escaping from predators, and they quickly show fatigue (VaN LEEUWEN, 1995), in comparison to the red muscles which comprise a markedly smaller portion of the muscles (COUGHLIN, 2002). Skeletal muscles in fish develop hypertrophy and hyperplasia (GALLOWAY et al, 1999).…”