Percolation Rates of Carassius Auratus Increase as Temperature Increases

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Cristiano Diaz

English 20 MWF

Ms. O’Donnell

October 31, 2017

Abstract:

In the article “Percolation rates of Carassius auratus increase as temperature increases”, written by Selena Leu, Michelle McCorkell, and Carisse Ballard who are marine biologist that gathered a variety of sources to explain the change in goldfish (Carassius auratus) percolation rates were measured as the temperature of the water the fish were in was changed. Percolation in fish is directly related to the fish’s respiration, and metabolism. Goldfish were placed in three different beakers with water at temperatures of 17˚C, 22˚C, and 29˚C and the respiratory rate of each fish was measured in breaths per minute. Goldfish respiratory rates were measured by counting each oscillation of the operculum (gill cover) as one breath. This study showed an increase in respiratory rates as the temperature of a fish's surrounding water increases. The effects on the goldfish from the increased water temperatures is a representative effect of global warming on marine ecosystems. Increased ocean temperatures affect fish behavior, mortality, population frequencies, and environments.  

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Cristiano Diaz

English 20 MWF

Ms. O’Donnell

October 31, 2017

Introduction:

In the article “Percolation rates of Carassius auratus increase as temperature increases”, written

by Selena Leu, Michelle McCorkell, and Carisse Ballard Ballard who are marine biologist that gathered a

variety of sources to explain the change the Carassius auratus, commonly known as goldfish, are

freshwater fish of the class Actinopterygii and order Cypriniformes. They utilize a single cycle circulatory

system, which is assisted by their body movements, and helps maintain appropriate blood flow to their

tissues (Hoar et al., 1969). When C. auratus move faster, the excess blood flow stimulated by that

movement supply more oxygen and nutrients; however, if a fish is moving more quickly over a long

period, this causes more stress for the animal due to increased metabolic rate and competition for

recourses. In warmer waters, C. auratus is more active to sustain homeostasis because bodily processes

like defecation and respiration occur more frequently and metabolic rate requires more demand. A

study done in 2014 showed an increased rate of cortisol and glucose production in Platichthys stellatus

as the result of increase in water temperature (Min, Park, and Myeong, 2015). Raised levels of cortisol

and glucose are indicators of stress in the fish. Another study from 1999 showed an increased metabolic

rate in Dicentrarchus labrax when exposed to increased water temperatures (Claireaux and Lagardère,

1999). This shows how water temperature plays a key role in the rate of metabolism in fish species.

Stress can also cause detrimental behavioral changes in fish. Aggressiveness in the fish species

Pomacentrus amboinensis, dramatically increased when temperatures increased by three degrees over

a 90 day exposure (Warren et al., 2016). This shows how the small environmental change of

temperature has significantly negative ramification for the fish species involved.

Water conditions around the world continue to experience change due to human pollution.

Water that is around highly populated areas is exposed to even more human pollution (Snieszko, 1974).

Freshwater aquatic life will continue to be exposed to more pollution and changing water conditions so

it is important to understand how those conditions effect fish. Fish are somewhat delicate because

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many have difficulty adapting to sudden changing environments. Because the temperatures are

changing, many species that are susceptible to physical stress will be unable to adapt fast enough given

the new conditions. Fish are poikilotherms and their body temperature normally ranges between a few

fractions of a degree of the water.

Materials & Methods:

One Carassius auratus was added into a separate beaker of 200mL of water. Each beaker was at

a different temperature to help determine if the rate of respiration changed with the change of the

temperature. One beaker was placed into cold water to gradually bring the temperature of the water

inside of the beaker down to about 17°C. The second beaker was left on the table at room temperature

at about 22°C, with no heat added or taken away from it. This beaker was used as the control group,

which helps rule out differing explanations of the results. The third beaker was placed into a warming

bath which gradually brought and held the temperature to about 29°C. The first and third beakers were

the experimental groups that helped test out the respiration rates on C. auratus.

The water in the beakers were gradually changed to their desired temperature to prevent heat

shock or causing harm to the fish. A similar study was performed to determine the temperature-

dependent changes of growth rate on goldfish cultured cells. They found that when they shifted the

temperature from thirty-five to forty degrees, this induced severe heat shock to the cultured cells of the

C. auratus. (Kondo et al., 2004) Therefore, it is important to gradually increase the temperature to

prevent this heat stress on the model organism

Discussion:

    The significant difference in the rate of percolation supports the hypothesis.  Fish have a higher level

of percolation in hot water due to an increase in enzymatic and metabolic activity, which results in a

higher demand for oxygen. Gill respiratory surface area at high pH and low temperatures reveal high

oxygen affinities in crucian carp hemoglobins, and this may be why there is a reduction in gill respiration