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Ecophysiology of intertidal fish

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Fish Ecophysiology

Part of the book series: Chapman & Hall Fish and Fisheries Series ((FIFI,volume 9))

Abstract

The intertidal environment may be characterized by extreme changes in water temperature, pH, salinity, oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions, and these may occur on a daily basis or be influenced by season or by the prevailing weather conditions. Temperature, osmoregulatory and respiratory problems may also be exacerbated by aerial exposure in some intertidal fish species. This brief review will concentrate on temperature, osmotic, respiratory and metabolic adaptations of intertidal fish which enable them to survive and colonize this extreme environment. Gibson (1982) has defined an intertidal fish as “a species which relies on utilization of the intertidal zone for completion of all or an essential part of its life history”. This definition will therefore be used throughout the chapter.

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  1. C. R. Bridges
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  1. Biologisk Institut, Odense Universitet, Campusvej 55, DK-5230, Odense M, Denmark

    J. Cliff Rankin

  2. Institute of Biology, Odense University, DK-5230, Odense M, Denmark

    Frank B. Jensen

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Bridges, C.R. (1993). Ecophysiology of intertidal fish. In: Rankin, J.C., Jensen, F.B. (eds) Fish Ecophysiology. Chapman & Hall Fish and Fisheries Series, vol 9. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2304-4_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2304-4_15

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