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Physiology of Swimming and Migration in Tunas

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Swimming Physiology of Fish

Abstract

Tunas are well known for specialized anatomical and physiological features that correlate to their exceptionally active lifestyle and ability to migrate over long distances. Foremost are a high degree of body streamlining, a lunate tail fin with high aspect ratio, a relatively “stiff-body” swimming style, elevated core body temperature, medially and anteriorly located aerobic red muscle, a large heart, and a high metabolic rate. This chapter will discuss the state of knowledge of these properties and review the importance of the muscle and tendon anatomy, muscle activation patterns and contractile properties, and the effect of elevated temperature on muscle power output. We also present an assessment of tuna swimming performance based on laboratory and field measurements, and summarize current knowledge of tuna migration patterns. Finally, the use of tunas in aquaculture and its future potential is discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Robert E. Shadwick & Laurenne L. Schiller

  2. Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada

    Douglas S. Fudge

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  1. Robert E. Shadwick
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  2. Laurenne L. Schiller
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  3. Douglas S. Fudge
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Correspondence to Robert E. Shadwick .

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  1. Center, The Institute for Marine Resources, Wageningen University and Research, Korringaweg 5, Yerseke, 4401 NT, Netherlands

    Arjan P. Palstra

  2. , Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 645, Barcelona, 08028, Spain

    Josep V. Planas

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Shadwick, R.E., Schiller, L.L., Fudge, D.S. (2013). Physiology of Swimming and Migration in Tunas. In: Palstra, A., Planas, J. (eds) Swimming Physiology of Fish. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-31049-2_3

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