Polyodon Spathula)
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Mississippi State University Scholars Junction Theses and Dissertations Theses and Dissertations 1-1-2015 Effects of Acute and Chronic Hypoxia on Respiratory Physiology of Paddlefish (Polyodon Spathula) Daniel Larbi Aboagye Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td Recommended Citation Aboagye, Daniel Larbi, "Effects of Acute and Chronic Hypoxia on Respiratory Physiology of Paddlefish (Polyodon Spathula)" (2015). Theses and Dissertations. 1711. https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/1711 This Dissertation - Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at Scholars Junction. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholars Junction. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Automated Template C: Created by James Nail 2013V2.1 Effects of acute and chronic hypoxia on respiratory physiology of paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) By Daniel Larbi Aboagye A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Mississippi State University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Forest Resources (Fisheries and Aquaculture) in the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture Mississippi State, Mississippi May 2015 Copyright by Daniel Larbi Aboagye 2015 Effects of acute and chronic hypoxia on respiratory physiology of paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) By Daniel Larbi Aboagye Approved: ____________________________________ Peter J. Allen (Major Professor) ____________________________________ Louis R. D’Abramo (Committee Member) ____________________________________ Lora Petrie-Hanson (Committee Member) ____________________________________ Steve Mims (Committee Member) ____________________________________ J. Wesley Neal (Committee Member) ____________________________________ Eric D. Dibble (Graduate Coordinator) ____________________________________ George M. Hopper Dean College of Forest Resources Name: Daniel Larbi Aboagye Date of Degree: May 8, 2015 Institution: Mississippi State University Major Field: Forest Resources (Fisheries and Aquaculture) Major Professor: Peter J. Allen Title of Study: Effects of acute and chronic hypoxia on respiratory physiology of paddlefish Polyodon spathula Pages in Study: 180 Candidate for Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Among the basal bony fishes, the American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) has a unique respiratory strategy of ram-ventilation. However, despite the increasing problems caused by hypoxia in natural habitats occupied by this species, little information exists about their response to hypoxia. Four studies were conducted to examine the physiological and biochemical responses of juvenile paddlefish (150-181 g) to acute and chronic hypoxia. Acute hypoxia tolerance, aerobic metabolic rates and swimming capabilities of paddlefish in an intermittent respirometer or swim flume were evaluated under normoxic (partial pressures of oxygen [pO2] =140 mm Hg) and hypoxic (pO2 =62 o mm Hg) conditions at 18 C and 26 °C. Additionally, blood oxygen transport, blood acid- base balance and metabolic stress were evaluated in paddlefish independently exposed to 4 different pO2s: normoxia =148 mm Hg, mild hypoxia =89 mm Hg, moderate hypoxia o =59 mm Hg and extreme hypoxia =36 mm Hg, at 21 C. Blood samples were collected from paddlefish after they had been exposed to treatment pO2’s for 0.25, 2, 6, 24 and 72 hours, and analyzed for hematocrit, pO2, total oxygen content, pCO2, pH, hemoglobin, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Cl-, glucose, lactate, etc. A third study used 1-D and 2-D J-resolved 1H NMR to analyze metabolite changes in muscle tissue of paddlefish exposed to normoxia (148 mm Hg), or acute (0.25 h) or chronic (72 h) moderate hypoxia (59 mm Hg). The last study examined the effect of moderate hypoxia (pO2: 59 mm Hg) and subsequent recovery in normoxia (pO2: 148 mm Hg) on plasma cortisol, blood oxygen transport, blood acid-base balance, metabolic, ion-osmoregulation and enzyme parameters in o paddlefish. The results indicate that paddlefish have a critical pO2 of 74 mm Hg at 18 C and 89 mm Hg at 26 oC and a lethal oxygen threshold of ~2 mg/ L. Sensitive to moderate hypoxia, death occured after 3-8 hours of extreme hypoxia. Paddlefish have reduced capacity for metabolic depression and, as a result, survival in hypoxia is limited due to a reduction in both aerobic and anaerobic (glycogen and glucose) energy stores as well as the accumulations of toxic H+ and lactate. Nonetheless recovery is possible. DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to my mother (Akua Adubea), twin brother (Johnny), wife (Judith) and kids (Jannis and Jadon). Furthermore, my work in graduate school would not have been fulfilling without the love and encouragement of Paafi, Caro, Emma and their families. I am grateful to you all. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to give my utmost gratitude to my Lord and savior Jesus Christ, without whose love and mercy this journey will not have been possible. I would also like to thank my advisor and mentor, Dr. Peter J. Allen, for giving me this opportunity to continue my education towards a PhD. His patience, guidance and genuine love for his students is second to none. I would also like to thank my graduate committee members, Dr. Louis R. D’Abramo, Dr. Lora Petrie-Hanson, Dr. Steve Mims and Dr. J. Wesley Neal, for their time and invaluable advice and support throughout this process. Furthermore, I am indebted to Ricky Campbell and staff of the Private John Allen National Fish Hatchery (United States Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS]), Dr. Steve Mims at the aquaculture division of Kentucky State University for providing fish and advice throughout this project. I would also like to thank the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture and M. Fondren and the staff of the South Farm Warmwater Aquaculture Research Facility at Mississippi State University, and Dr. Hammed A. Olanrewaju of the USDA Poultry Research Unit for providing assistance and advice towards the completion of this project. Funding was provided by Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS), USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. iii Paul Picard, Dan Schwarz, Mike Arnold, Heather Stewart, Shane Ramee and Michael Ciaramella deserve special thanks for all the help they provided me with paddlefish upkeep and sample collection. You all made Mississippi feel like home. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION .................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... iii LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................1 1.1 Study background ..................................................................................1 1.2 Paddlefish life history ............................................................................1 1.2.1 Paddlefish conservation status .........................................................2 1.3 Hypoxia in aquatic environments ..........................................................4 1.3.1 Physiological responses of fishes to hypoxia ...................................6 1.3.2 Developmental changes in hypoxic regulatory abilities ..................7 1.3.3 Metabolic responses of fishes to hypoxia ........................................9 1.3.4 Response of paddlefish to hypoxia ................................................10 1.4 Project overview ..................................................................................12 1.4.1 Expected results and benefits .........................................................12 1.4.2 References ......................................................................................14 II. PHYSIOLOGICAL AND METABOLIC RESPONSES OF JUVENILE PADDLEFISH POLYODON SPATHULA TO HYPOXIA AND TEMPERATURE ...................................................................................24 2.1 Abstract ................................................................................................24 2.2 Introduction ..........................................................................................25 2.3 Materials and Methods .........................................................................29 2.3.1 Fish source and care .......................................................................29 2.3.2 Hypoxia tolerance ..........................................................................30 2.3.3 Routine metabolic rate ...................................................................31 2.3.4 Swimming performance .................................................................34 2.3.5 Active metabolic rate .....................................................................35 2.3.6 Metabolic scope for activity ...........................................................36 2.4 Statistical analyses ...............................................................................36 2.5 Results ..................................................................................................37