Date of Award
Fall 12-2019
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Program
Biological Sciences
Department
Biological Sciences
Major Professor
Bernard Rees
Second Advisor
Fernando Galvez
Third Advisor
Simon Lailvaux
Abstract
This research examined the effects of acclimation to lowered salinity, elevated temperature, and hypoxia on aerobic metabolism of the Gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis, a common estuarine resident of the Gulf of Mexico. Standard metabolic rate (SMR), maximum metabolic rate (MMR), absolute aerobic scope (AAS), and critical oxygen tension (Pcrit) were each influenced by one or more acclimation treatments. Assessing the consistency of these traits measured in the same individuals over time, all were found to be significantly repeatable with no indication that the repeatability of any traits was affected by acclimation conditions. Significant correlations were found between SMR and Pcrit (positively correlated), between SMR and AAS (negatively correlated), between MMR and AAS (positive), and between AAS and Pcrit (negative). This study, therefore, documents the effects of acclimation on these traits, their repeatability, and correlations among them. It further suggests that repeatability of these traits is not context dependent.
Recommended Citation
Reemeyer, Jessica E., "Acclimation, long-term repeatability, and phenotypic correlations of aerobic metabolic traits in the Gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis" (2019). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 2704.
https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/2704
Included in
Comparative and Evolutionary Physiology Commons, Laboratory and Basic Science Research Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
Rights
The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.