Thermal Biology and Swimming Energetics of Bonefish (Albula vulpes) in Eleuthera, The Bahamas.

Knowledge of the swimming energetics and thermal biology of bonefish is extremely limited, yet this information is critical to understanding the thermal windows for tropical intertidal species, quantifying fish fitness in relation to temperature and understanding the potential future effects of climate change. The critical swimming speed (Ucrit) and scope for activity was assessed across a range of temperatures for bonefish in The Bahamas, using a swim tunnel. For both critical swimming speed and scope for activity, optimal (Topt) and critical (Tcrit) temperatures were determined. The thermal profile of wild bonefish was also determined by surgically implanting iButton thermal loggers into the fish and recapturing those fish after they had been at liberty. Overall, this research yields a better understanding of bonefish thermal biology, and the potential impacts of climate change, as well as paves the way for creating a complete bioenergetics model for the species.