Physiological Plasticity to Water Flow Habitat in the Damselfish, Acanthochromis polyacanthus: Linking Phenotype to Performance

摘要: The relationships among animal form, function and performance are complex, vary across environments. Therefore, it can be difficult to identify morphological and/or physiological traits responsible for enhancing in a given habitat. In fishes, differences swimming water flow gradients related variation within species. However, have been less well studied. We experimentally reared juvenile damselfish, Acanthochromis polyacanthus, under different regimes test 1) whether aspects of physiology morphology show plastic responses flow, 2) trait divergence correlates with 3) environment relates observed wild fish. found that maximum metabolic rate, aerobic scope blood haematocrit were higher wave-reared fish compared low flow. pectoral fin shape, which tends correlate sustained performance, did not differ between rearing treatments or collection sites. Maximum rate was the best overall predictor individual performance; shape total length 3.3 3.7 times likely than explain critical speed. Performance induced environments pronounced but similar direction. Our results suggest exposure motion induces changes enhance A. polyacanthus. Thus, functional habitats should also consider physiology.