Quantifying Diel Change in the Metabolic Rate of the Clearnose Skate (Rostroraja eglanteria)
Date
2025-05
Authors
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
In this study, we measured the routine metabolic rate (RMR) for the Clearnose
Skate (Rostroraja eglanteria) throughout the diel cycle to understand activity levels.
Intermittent flow respirometry measured oxygen consumption of skates, a proxy for
metabolic rate, during the day and night. Subtracting the day and night RMR’s, two
skates saw higher RMR’s during the day phase (Skate 1 - average difference of 63 mg
O2/hr/kg and standard deviation of 31.1 mg O2/hr/kg, Skate 3 - average difference of
21 mg O2/hr/kg and standard deviation of 37.1 mg O2/hr/kg) while one saw higher
RMR’s at night (Skate 2 - average difference of -50 mg O2/hr/kg and standard
deviation of 68.7 mg O2/hr/kg). There was no significant difference between phases.
To observe acclimation influence, the first RMR conducted was removed from each
skate. Two skates showed contradicting patterns (Skate 2 - average difference of 9.5
mg O2/hr/kg and standard deviation of 2.1 mg O2/hr/kg, Skate 3 - average difference
of -11 mg O2/hr/kg and standard deviation of 4.24 mg O2/hr/kg). No significant
statistical difference was found. The first trial RMR’s suggest that skates were stressed
when introduced to the system, thus future applications should increase acclimation
time and decrease animal handling.