Moving With The Beat: Heart Rate And Visceral Temperature Of Free-Swimming And Feeding Bluefin Tuna

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Also Included In: Veterinary
Article Date: 27 Aug 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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Nothing is known of the cardiovascular function of free-swimming bluefin tuna. We used a surgically-implanted data logger to measure heart rate and visceral temperature of free-swimming and feeding southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii; 10-21 kg) within sea pens in Australia.

The digestive period was characterised by elevated visceral temperature and heart rate, the latter suggesting heart beat frequency as a key component to the increased level of circulatory oxygen transport required for digestion.

Contrary to expectations, T. maccoyii maintains a routine heart rate similar to other fishes, and the maximum heart rate we recorded was also unexceptional.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Proceedings B is the Royal Society's flagship biological research journal, dedicated to the rapid publication and broad dissemination of high-quality research papers, reviews and comment and reply papers. The scope of journal is diverse and is especially strong in organismal biology.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences