Data from "Physiological plasticity to water flow habitat in the damselfish, Acanthochromis polyacanthus: linking phenotype to performance"

Data from Binning et al. In review. <br>This study tested whether aspects of swimming physiology and fin shape show plastic responses to unsteady, wave-driven water flow in a laboratory experiment using split-broods of a widespread damselfish (<em>Acanthochromis polyacanthus</em>) reared under different flow regimes. We collected fish from 16 broods at Lizard Island, northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Eight broods were on the predominantly windward (wave exposed) and eight on the leeward (sheltered) side of the island. We injected individuals from each brood with Visible Implant Elastomer tags to uniquely colour-code siblings.Three individuals from each brood were randomly assigned to a training tank (wave treatment or calm treatment). We measured fin shape (aspect ratio) after 4 and 8 months in the rearing treatment. After 7-8 months, we also measured critical swimming speed (Ucrit), and oxygen consumption rates (ṀO2: mg O2kg-1h-1) in a swimming respirometer. We also took blood samples, and measured blood cortisol (ng/ml) and haematocrit (proportion red blood cells to total blood volume). We compared these results with those found in wild-caught adult individuals of the same species published in another study (Binning et al. 2014 Oecologia: doi:10.1007/s00442-013-2794-5). Please see Binning et al. for more detailed description of the methods.