Partitioning of Energy in Fish: Can Reduction of Swimming Activity Compensate for the Cost of Production?

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Abstract
By using a new video activity monitoring processor (Kaufmann, 1983)in conjunction with a large respirometer, we have measured swimming activity, oxygen consumption and reproductive investment (in the form of gonadal growth) of roach (Rutilus rutilus L.) during a seasonal cycle. If the effect of temperature on metabolism is taken into account it can be shown that swimming activity is drastically reduced during the period of gonadal synthesis (July-December). On the basis of a calibration curve established for the preproductive phase (January-June), the reduction in locomotor activity is estimated torepresent a saving of 1485 kJ kg−1 of metabolizable energy during a periodin which 364 kJ worth of gonadal tissue per kg of fish are being synthesized. Our data provide the first evidence that even in a poikilothermicanimal reduction of locomotor activity may compensate for the costs ofproducing gonadal tissue.

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