Influence of female reproductive state and of fishing-capture stress on the oxygen uptake rate of a viviparous elasmobranch

The aim of the experiment was to investigate potential alterations in oxygen uptake rates (<em>Ṁ</em>O2), a proxy for aerobic energetic use, caused by a fishing-capture stress experienced by pregnant <em>Trygonorrhina dumerilii</em>, a viviparous elasmobranch species. The energetic cost of maintaining late term pregnancy and embryonic respiration was also estimated. This allowed evaluating the extent of the consequences of the potential energetic alterations in the context of pregnancy, one of the most energetically demanding and important biological activity. The “RAWdata” dataset includes dissolved oxygen data recorded during respirometry trials and used to calculate <em>Ṁ</em>O2. These data have been collected from pregnant females before (Pre-stress <em>Ṁ</em>O2) and immediately after a simulated trawling capture event (After-capture <em>Ṁ</em>O2) and immediately following parturition (Postpartum <em>Ṁ</em>O2). The “DataForStat” dataset contains the results for the calculated <em>Ṁ</em>O2 separately for the different females and Pre-stress, After-capture, and Postpartum <em>Ṁ</em>O2. Female morphological data, including length, body mass, and volume, were also collected and included in this dataset. Lastly, the dataset contains also data on number of embryos born from each female (‘Fecundity’) and the days elapsed between Pre-stress <em>Ṁ</em>O2 measurements and parturition. A R script file is also available containing the codes used for the different statistical analysis and graphs.