The effect of fishing-capture stress on the oxygen uptake rate and swimming activity of a holocephalan

The aim of the experiment was to investigate potential alterations in oxygen uptake rates (ṀO2), a proxy for aerobic energetic use, caused by a fishing-capture stress experienced by elephant fishes (Callorhinchus milii), an holocephalan species. Two types of ṀO2 were measured: Active ṀO2, referring to the oxygen requirements of an animal actively swimming, and Inactive ṀO2, referring to the oxygen uptake of an animal at rest. Potential ṀO2 recovery and changes in swimming activity were also monitored. This allowed evaluating the extent of the consequences of the potential energetic alterations in the context of swimming and basal metabolism. The “DO_Data” dataset includes dissolved oxygen data recorded during respirometry trials and used to calculate ṀO2. These data have been collected from animals before (Pre-capture ṀO2), immediately after (After-capture ṀO2), and 7-days after (Recovery ṀO2) a simulated gillnet capture event. The “ResultsMO2” dataset contains the results for the calculated ṀO2s separately for the different animals and Pre-capture, After-capture, and Recovery ṀO2. Animal morphological data, including length, body mass, and volume, were also collected and included in this dataset. Lastly, the dataset also contains data on the percentual amount of time the animals spent swimming in each respirometry trial. A R script file is also available containing the codes used for the different statistical analysis and graphs.