St Andrews Research Repository

St Andrews University Home
View Item 
  •   St Andrews Research Repository
  • Biology (School of)
  • Biology
  • Biology Theses
  • View Item
  •   St Andrews Research Repository
  • Biology (School of)
  • Biology
  • Biology Theses
  • View Item
  •   St Andrews Research Repository
  • Biology (School of)
  • Biology
  • Biology Theses
  • View Item
  • Register / Login
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

Aspects of growth and metabolism in the musculature of Antarctic fishes : with particular reference to 'Notothenia neglecta' nybelin

Thumbnail
View/Open
NeilAntonyFitchPhDThesis.pdf (34.39Mb)
Date
1986
Author
Fitch, Neil Antony
Supervisor
Johnston, Ian A.
White, M. G.
Metadata
Show full item record
Abstract
1. Aspects of the physiology and biochemistry of Antarctic fish muscle have been examined, principally for the nototheniid, Notothenia neglecta Nybelin. 2. Sampling was most successful during the late summer/autumn. The trammel net was the best method for catching fish above 200mm standard length. Smaller fish were best caught by SCUBA divers using hand-nets. 3. The condition factor for fish caught was highest during the summer (high food availability) and remained low during the winter months. Analysis of trunk muscle constituents (water, protein, lipid) indicated no evidence for marked depletion at any time of the year. Seasonal variation in relative gonad size and relative liver size were observed. 4. Metabolically the pectoral abductor muscle of N.neglecta had higher activities of anaerobic and aerobic enzymes than either the red or white trunk muscles. This is in line with the fact that this species normally swims using enlarged pectoral fins, while sprint swimming in short bursts is carried out by the white trunk muscle. 5. Differences in the metabolic profiles of the trunk muscles of 3 Antarctic species (N.neglecta, Notothenia gibberifrons and Trematomus newnesi) are related to their different lifestyles, particularily feeding behaviours. 6. Muscle growth in N.neglecta is probably both by hypertrophy, and recruitment of myosatellite cells. Both the fibres and capillaries in Antarctic species are much larger in cross-sectional area than for temperate species. 7. Lactate dehydrogenase isozymes in the trunk and cardiac muscles of N.neqlecta are electrophoretically and kinetically similar. This, along with its high activities of anaerobic enzymes indicates that the cardiac muscle is adapted to utilise fuels anaerobically if necessary. 8. The majority of physiological and cellular adaptations can be explained on the basis of physiological/ecological constraints rather than cold temperature per se.
Type
Thesis, PhD Doctor of Philosophy
Collections
  • Biology Theses
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10023/14989

Items in the St Andrews Research Repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.

Advanced Search

Browse

All of RepositoryCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateNamesTitlesSubjectsClassificationTypeFunderThis CollectionBy Issue DateNamesTitlesSubjectsClassificationTypeFunder

My Account

Login

Open Access

To find out how you can benefit from open access to research, see our library web pages and Open Access blog. For open access help contact: openaccess@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Accessibility

Read our Accessibility statement.

How to submit research papers

The full text of research papers can be submitted to the repository via Pure, the University's research information system. For help see our guide: How to deposit in Pure.

Electronic thesis deposit

Help with deposit.

Repository help

For repository help contact: Digital-Repository@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Give Feedback

Cookie policy

This site may use cookies. Please see Terms and Conditions.

Usage statistics

COUNTER-compliant statistics on downloads from the repository are available from the IRUS-UK Service. Contact us for information.

© University of St Andrews Library

University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland, No SC013532.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter