Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Allen, Peter J

Committee Member

Mischke, Charles C

Committee Member

Street, Garrett M

Date of Degree

12-9-2022

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Forest Resources

Department

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Abstract

Although U.S. commercial catfish aquaculture ponds are in temperate regions and experience cool to cold temperatures during the winter, few studies have investigated the effects of low temperatures on catfish physiological processes. Therefore, growth, metabolism, swimming performance, and blood variables were compared between channel (Ictalurus punctatus), blue (I. furcatus), and hybrid (I. furcatus x I. punctatus) catfish at 10 and 20°C. Accelerometers were also used to evaluate relationships among acceleration, metabolism, and tail beat frequency (TBF) during swimming performance tests. Channel catfish experienced the greatest growth, yet growth was diminished across all fish types at 10°C. Metabolic processes, swimming performance, and related blood variables were also diminished at 10°C. Relationships among acceleration, metabolism, and TBF were found indicating cold temperatures inhibit maximum production in catfish and provide initial steps for creating holistic bioenergetic models for further application.

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