A new device for monitoring the activity of freely swimming flatfish, Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

ABSTRACT:   The tail beat and activity behavior of four captive Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus , were monitored with acceleration data-loggers while the fish swam in an aquarium. Depth, swimming speeds and two-axis acceleration data were collected continuously for approximately 20 h per fish. Simultaneously, the swimming behaviors of the fish were filmed at different angles. Using the specific characteristic of the acceleration profiles, in tandem with other types of data (e.g. speed and depth), four behavioral patterns could be distinguished: (i) 'active' swimming; (ii) burying patterns; (iii) 'inactive' gliding; and (iv) lying on the bottom. Tail beat frequency ranged from 1.65 ± 0.47 to 2.04 ± 0.25 Hz (mean ± SD; n  = 4). Using the relationship between tail beat frequency and swimming speed, the 'preferred' swimming speed of the fish was estimated to be between 0.6 and 1.2 body lengths (BL)/s. Additionally, fish rarely swam faster than 1.2 BL/s. This study shows that the acceleration data-loggers represent a useful and reliable system for accurately recording the tail beat of free-ranging fish and estimating flatfish behavior.     

Association of early juvenile yellowfin tuna <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thunnus albacares</Emphasis> with a network of payaos in the Philippines

To understand how early juvenile yellowfin tuna use the habitat and environment provided by fish aggregating devices (FADs), fish (19–31 cm FL) implanted with ultrasonic transmitters into their abdominal cavities were released in a network of payaos in Panay Gulf, the Philippines. Self-recording receivers were attached to the anchor ropes of the payaos to detect the presence of the fish. Some aspects of the behavior of juveniles were similar to those reported in adults. One juvenile showed a diurnal vertical swimming pattern, swam within a limited shallow range during the nighttime, and dived to deeper waters during the daytime. Two juveniles performed deep dives over 100 m during payao-to-payao excursion. Three juveniles showed a diurnal horizontal swimming pattern that was synchronized. In contrast, juveniles stayed <6 days in the network, shorter than adults. No juveniles returned to the same payao after an interruption of over 24 h. It is suggested that juveniles in this area are just starting to migrate and are temporarily staying around a payao for a few days to forage before continuing their migration.     

Movements of Atlantic salmon migrating upstream through a fish-pass complex in Scotland

Abstract  – Movements of adult Atlantic salmon were tracked through a series of four fish passes and an impoundment on the River Conon system, Northern Scotland. Proportions of fish passing individual obstructions ranged from 63 to 100%. The cumulative effect was that only 4 of the 54 tagged fish reached the spawning areas. The fish were delayed for 1–41 days at a pool-and-overfall ladder and 1–52 days at a Borland fish lift. The fish swam through a 10 km long reservoir at 0.21–1.16 km·h⁻¹. A total of 13 fish negotiated a 2.5 km long, 3 m diameter diversion tunnel through a mountain to their home river. High levels of electromyogram (EMG) activity were recorded during ascent of a pool-and-overfall fish ladder, indicating that high energy demanding burst swimming was required.     

Oxygen consumption and swim speed of the harbor porpoise Phocoena phocoena

ABSTRACT: The rate of oxygen consumption and energetic cost of locomotion of captive harbor porpoises Phocoena phocoena were studied in Hokkaido, Japan, using respirometry together with externally attached devices (a data logger) that recorded swim speed and dive depth. Harbor porpoises swam freely in a tank at a swim speed ranging 0.5–4.2 m/s. Swimming during most dives was relatively slow with mean swim speed being 0.76–0.91 m/s. Oxygen consumption rate of the swimming harbor porpoise increased with swim speed according to a cubed function. The minimum cost of transport during underwater swimming in the harbor porpoise was 2.39–2.43 J/kg per m at an average swim speed of 1.3–1.5 m/s. However, porpoises usually swam slower to conserve energy and dived aerobically. This explains why harbor porpoises can dive repeatedly and continuously without extended rest at the sea surface.     

Submerged light increases swimming depth and reduces fish density of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. in production cages

Artificial photoperiods that postpone sexual maturation and increase growth are now widely used in the Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. farming industry. Few studies have been carried out to examine the effect of this treatment on fish behaviour and welfare in production cages. In this study, echo‐integration was used to observe the swimming depth and fish density of salmon in 20‐m‐deep production cages illuminated by lamps mounted above the water surface (SURF) or submerged in the cage (SUBS). From January to May, SUBS swam at a greater depth (5–11 m) than SURF (1–3 m) at night. SURF descended and SUBS ascended at dawn, but SUBS were still swimming at greater depth than SURF during the day from January to March. The difference in swimming depth resulted in SURF swimming at a median fish density about twice as high as SUBS at night and up to five times the calculated fish density. SURF increased the utilization of the cage volume as the biomass increased, but fish swimming at the highest density did so at up to 20 times the calculated fish density. The results suggest that salmon position themselves in relation to the artificial light gradient to maintain schooling behaviour and that the use of submersible lights may be a precaution to secure the welfare of caged salmon.     

草鱼洄游适宜流速条件与适应阈值

洄游通道的连通性及其水文条件,是制约鱼类正常洄游和产卵繁殖的关键因素,现有的生态流量相关研究更多侧重于产卵场栖息地模拟,忽略了鱼类洄游水流条件的重要性。为了探究流速条件对鱼类洄游上溯的影响,选取体长(55±5)cm的草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus)为实验对象,通过搭建鱼类洄游仿真河道,营造不同的流速工况,观察不同情景方案下实验鱼群上溯洄游情况,并利用模糊逻辑法对鱼类上溯洄游率、平均上溯时间及上溯持续性等实验参数进行综合分析,探索草鱼洄游的适宜流速条件与适应阈值。结果显示,在流速0.20m/s以下时,草鱼基本无上溯行为;流速0.25～0.80m/s,70%样本在15min内完成上溯,但0.25～0.30m/s时,鱼群上溯缺乏明显的持续性;0.90～1.00m/s时,80%以上样本在5min快速完成上溯;流速超过1.1m/s时,上溯成功率明显降低。研究表明,实验草鱼洄游的适宜流速范围是0.40～1.00m/s,而刺激草鱼洄游的最小流速阈值是0.20m/s。相关结果可为河流生态水力学模拟和河流生态修复以及水利工程生态调度提供技术支撑。     

Use of avoidance response by rainbow trout to carbon dioxide for fish self-transfer between tanks

Convenient, economical, and reduced labor fish harvest and transfer systems are required to realize operating cost savings that can be achieved with the use of much larger and deeper circular culture tanks. To achieve these goals, we developed a new technology for transferring fish based on their avoidance behavior to elevated concentrations of dissolved carbon dioxide (CO₂). We observed this behavioral response during controlled, replicated experiments that showed dissolved CO₂ concentrations of 60–120 mg/L induced rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to swim out of their 11 m³ “growout” tank, through a transfer pipe carrying a flow with ≤23 mg/L dissolved CO₂, into a second 11 m³ “harvest” tank. The research was conducted using separate groups of rainbow trout held at commercially relevant densities (40–60 kg/m³). The average weight of fish ranged from 0.15 to 1.3 kg during the various trials. In all trials that used a constant flow of low CO₂ water (≤23 mg/L) entering the growout tank from the harvest tank, approximately 80–90% of the fish swam from the growout tank, through the transfer pipe, and into the harvest tank after the CO₂ concentration in the growout tank had exceeded 60 mg/L. The fish that remained in the growout tank stayed within the area of relatively low CO₂ water at the entrance of the transfer pipe. However, the rate of fish transfer from the growout tank to the harvest tank was more than doubled when the diameter of the transfer pipe was increased from 203 to 406 mm. To consistently achieve fish transfer efficiencies of 99%, water flow rate through the fish transfer pipe had to be reduced to 10–20% of the original flow just before the conclusion of each trial. Reducing the flow of relatively low CO₂ water near the end of each fish transfer event, restricted the zone of relatively low CO₂ water about the entrance of the fish transfer pipe, and provided the stimulus for all but a few remaining fish to swim out of the growout tank. Results indicate that the CO₂ avoidance technique can provide a convenient, efficient, more economical, and reduced labor approach for fish transfer, especially in applications using large and well mixed circular culture tanks.     

Swimming behaviour of winter flounder (Pleuronectes americanus) on natural fishing grounds as observed by an underwater video camera

Swimming behaviour of winter flounder (Pleuronectes americanus) was recorded near baited hooks on natural fishing grounds using an underwater video camera. Winter flounder were observed to stay on or very close to the seabed, never rising to more than 0.6 m off bottom during 1 month of observation. Winter flounder were recorded to take bait actively at temperatures as low as −1.2 °C. Movement of winter flounder was characterised by a period of swimming off seabed followed by a period of resting on the seabed. The proportion of time swimming off seabed as opposed to resting on the seabed was positively related to water temperature. Flounder spent an average of 32% of time in swimming when at −1.2 °C compared with 67% when at 4.4 °C. Voluntary swimming speed of the flounder during the period of swimming was lower at lower temperatures. An average swimming speed of 0.52 body lengths per second (L s⁻¹) at −1.2 °C was recorded compared with 0.95 L s⁻¹ at 4.4 °C. Overall rate of movement was reduced by three-fold when water temperature fell from 4.4 to −1.2 °C. The reduced rate of movement at lower temperatures is discussed in relation to potential fishing area of fixed fishing gears such as gillnets.     

鳙幼鱼下行过坝的水力导鱼栅实验

分析不同叶片角和布置角下导鱼栅的导鱼效果,获取最优的导鱼栅布置方式,为下行过鱼设施设计提供理论依据及参考。以鳙(Aristichthys nobilis)幼鱼为研究对象,通过设置导鱼栅布置角度(15°、30°、45°)和叶片角度(15°、30°、45°、90°),在室内开展模型实验,分析鳙从导鱼旁路下行(引导成功)和从导鱼栅叶片间隙下行(引导失败)的通过率,确定最优运行工况。结果表明:在所有工况下,实验鱼均出现了顶流现象,但顶流率均小于50%;导鱼栅布置角和叶片角同为30°时,辅助鱼类下行的成功率最高,达95%;其他工况下,成功率均低于75%。导鱼栅附近的水力条件表明,流速沿着导鱼栅方向呈现波浪线上升,紊动能分布总体呈现先上升后下降的趋势,紊动能范围为0~0.0032 m²/s²。     

不同眼型金线鲃洞穴鱼类趋触行为的对比研究

研究金线鲃（Sinocyclocheilus）的游动特征——趋触性（贴近边界前行）,为人工养殖、繁育和物种保护提供理论支持。试验用金线鲃均为成鱼,8种51尾,其中盲眼种2种、小眼种和正常眼种各3种。试验在安静、黑暗的环境进行,刺激条件分别为无干扰、静止障碍物和振动吸引,使用软件追踪分析试验鱼位置(距离和方向)、时间以及相对于试验缸壁的游动速度,运用线性模型分析金线鲃趋触行为差异的关键因素。结果表明：趋触前行时间占比盲眼种为73.06%、小眼种为72.65%、正常眼种为54.62%;趋触距离盲眼种（197±18）SBL、小眼种（158±14）SBL、正常眼种（139±15） SBL;趋触游动速度盲眼种（0.53±0.19）cm/（s·SBL）、正常眼种（0.37±0.18）cm/（s·SBL）、小眼种（0.46±0.22）cm/（s·SBL）。金线鲃趋触前行的行为与游泳特性如游泳速度和时间高度相关,趋触行为可能作为一种自我保护作用和觅食策略,甚至作为一种防御策略。实践中可以依据金线鲃眼部形态和行为上的趋触性偏好分类培育饲养,同时增加缓沉型鱼食以及增添静止设施。     

障碍物对鲢幼鱼游泳动力学的影响

为了解鱼在复杂水流环境中的运动行为,提升鱼道过鱼效果,实验通过在水槽中放置障碍物,分析不同来流速度(1,3和5 BL/s)(BL/s即体长每秒)下鲢幼鱼顶流静止和顶流前进时的游泳动力学表现,提取的游泳动力学指标有摆尾频率、摆尾幅度、对地游泳速度、游泳加速度和运动步长。结果发现,半流速度1 BL/s下,与自由来流相比,鲢幼鱼在障碍物后方顶流静止时,摆尾频率降低,摆尾幅度增加;顶流前进时,摆尾频率、对地游泳速度、游泳加速度和运动步长降低,摆尾幅度增加。半流速度3 BL/s下,障碍物有助于节省鱼类运动能量的消耗。在有障碍物的水流中,顶流静止时的摆尾频率随流速的增加而增加;顶流前进时,摆尾频率、摆尾幅度和游泳加速度随流速增大而增大,而运动步长随流速增大而减小。位置偏好研究表明,当流速为3 BL/s时,鲢幼鱼明显集中在距离障碍物后方约5～30 cm处游动,停留时间占比达92.5%,可能采用了卡门步态的运动模式;当流速为1和5 BL/s时,鲢幼鱼没有表现出非常明显的位置偏好;在自由来流中,鲢常贴壁游泳,亦没有明显的位置偏好,表明障碍物和流速的结合可为鱼类提供水流藏匿场,研究结果为鱼道设计提供重要参考依据。     

Ontogeny of schooling behavior in the oval squid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sepioteuthis lessoniana</Emphasis>

In contrast to schooling behavior in fish, which is well documented, the schooling behavior of an evolutionary counterpart, squid, has not been adequately described in the literature. In the current study, we investigated the ontogeny of schooling behavior in the oval squid Sepioteuthis lessoniana reared from hatching to about two months of age. During the two months of development, the distance and angle between nearest-neighbor individuals decreased from 5.3 mantle lengths (ML) to 1.8 ML and from 42.7° to 24.2°, respectively. In addition, the swimming distance of individuals in experimental duration decreased from 530.4 to 79.9 ML, and the relative swimming speed also decreased from 17.1 to 4.6 ML/s during the same period, with increasing synchronized hovering of individuals. These observations clearly suggest that oval squid swim randomly until 20 days after hatching, then form a school 30–60 days after hatching with an inter-individual distance of 2.0 ML. At two months after hatching, oval squid individuals swam in a parallel orientation and formed a belt-shaped arrangement, similar to the adult schooling behavior observed in natural populations.     

Patterns of movement and habitat use by tigerfish (Hydrocynus vittatus) in the Upper Zambezi River (Namibia)

Abstract – During 6 November to 24 December 2000, 23 tigerfish [( Hydrocynus vittatus ), 30–54 cm] were tagged with radio transmitters in the Zambezi River (Namibia) to record habitat utilisation during low, rising and high water levels. The fish were tracked, on average, every fourth day during 23 November to 18 May. Two movement patterns were detected. Approximately 50% of the fish moved <1000 m among tracking surveys, staying within 'defined' home ranges. The remaining fish showed consistent site fidelity for periods, with long distance movements (>1000 m) to new areas among residency periods. Overall, mean distance moved between tracking surveys was 1447 m. Home range size varied among individuals, with a 95% probability of localisation within an average area of 276,978 m². The fish utilised a mean river stretch of 18,836 m (range = 90–71,840). All the fish were recorded in the main stem, and on average, 95% of the fixes were in the main stem during low water. However, the fish used temporary flooded areas to an increasing extent during the rising and high water period, but did not undertake long-distance migrations into the floodplains. Fish were sometimes near vegetation, but were never recorded into or under vegetation.     

Individual variations in behavior and free cortisol responses to acute stress in tiger pufferfish Takifugu rubripes

Abstract:   The aim of the present study was for individual variation in behavior to be characterized and related to differences in physiological stress responses in juvenile tiger pufferfish (fugu) Takifugu rubripes . A set of siblings ( n  = 330) from wild parents was subjected to behavior tests, and some were classified into active and inactive groups ( n  = 42 each group). The active animals consisted of those individuals that kept active swimming during 6 min after transfer from one tank to another, and the inactive animals were those that stopped swimming within 6 min. Time-course acute stress responses, which were elicited by anesthesia and subsequent removal of a pectoral fin, were compared between the active and inactive fish. The stress indicators used were free and total plasma cortisol, and plasma glucose. Although no significant difference was observed at each sampling point between groups, the inactive fish required shorter recovery time from acute stress in all three indicators than the active fish. The percentage of free to total plasma cortisol in the pre-stress condition was significantly lower in the inactive group than in the active group. Our findings indicate that fugu has behavioral variation that is associated with stress responsiveness. The inactive fish are expected to be more tolerant of stress and suitable for aquaculture.     

基于水声学的北江石角水库鱼类资源季节变动及行为特征研究

石角水库位于广东省北江清远水利枢纽和飞来峡水利枢纽之间,是北江干流第一座梯级电站河道型水库。由于水坝阻隔及其他人类涉水活动影响,库区渔业资源呈严重衰竭趋势。为了解其鱼类资源现状,采用分裂波束渔探仪EY60(120 k Hz,200 W)于2015—2016年对库区鱼类资源及种群行为特征进行调查评估。结果显示,鱼类密度、鱼类行为及垂直分布均存在明显的时空差异,且鱼类个体呈现小型化。2015年12月、2016年3月和2016年6月鱼类平均密度分别为(0.008±0.0125)ind/m3、(0.1601±0.1123)ind/m~3和(0.0405±0.0449)ind/m~3。不同季节鱼类密度存在显著差异(P0.05),冬春季节(12月、3月)鱼类主要集中于库首区域,夏季(6月)库尾为高密度区域。从垂直分布来看,鱼类主要分布于4~12 m水层,且不同区域间存在显著差异(P0.01)。不同季节鱼类洄游行为差异明显,具体表现为夏季鱼类主要从库首向库尾水平洄游,垂直方向为向下洄游,而冬季则相反。本研究初步探明石角水库鱼类资源分布及其行为特征,也表明声学方法在研究较大空间尺度鱼类行为方面的适用性,研究结果可为北江渔业资源管理与保护提供参考依据。     

Classification of sound-scattering layers using swimming speed estimated by acoustic Doppler current profiler

There are various techniques for identifying fish species, including the multi-frequency method, in situ target strength characteristics, and digital image processing methods. Acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) are able to determine multiple current fields simultaneously and have been used to observe the swimming speed and behavior patterns of shoals of pelagic fish under natural conditions. In this study, we evaluated a classification method that can be used to determine the swimming velocity of both the sound-scattering layer and pelagic fish shoals using an ADCP (153.6 kHz) and a scientific echosounder (38, 200 kHz). To calculate the actual swimming speed of the fish shoals, the mean swimming velocity vectors of each stratified bin must be compared with the mean surrounding three-dimensional (3D) current velocity vectors. We found the average 3D swimming velocity of the sound-scattering layer to be characterized by a deviation of >5.3 cm/s from the surrounding current field. The average 3D swimming velocity of Pacific saury Cololabis saira was calculated to be 91.3 cm/s, while that of lanternfish Diaphus theta was 28.1 cm/s. These swimming speeds correspond to 4.19- and 4.26-fold the body length, respectively. Thus, the use of ADCP swimming velocity data can be expected to be a valuable species identification method for various fishes distributed in a given survey area.     

Influence of California halibut (Paralichthys californicus) on the vertical distribution of dissolved oxygen in a raceway and a circular tank at two depths

The design and operation of aquaculture tanks should minimize stagnant areas especially in the immediate vicinity of the fish. In tanks with pelagic fish, mixing caused by the water flow and by fish swimming is sufficient to maintain dissolved oxygen and metabolite concentrations in the immediate vicinity of the fish that are similar to those in the main water body. Given the behavior of sedentary benthic species, such as the California halibut (Paralichthys californicus), and their tendency to remain motionless on the bottom of aquaculture tanks, often in layers that are several fish deep, water quality may stratify with the worse conditions occurring in the area where they fish are lying. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence that California halibut (450 g average weight) may have on the vertical profile of oxygen concentration in a raceway (239 cm long, 28 cm wide) and a circular tank (92 cm diameter) operated at two water depths (10 and 20 cm). Oxygen was measured at each centimeter of the vertical profile both in an area with fish and without fish to assess their influence.

Results showed a lower oxygen concentration in the near-bottom region of the raceway and circular tanks. The phenomenon was most pronounced in the raceway operated at a 20 cm depth, but was also observed in the circular tank operated at 20 cm and in the raceway at 10 cm.

Measurements were also taken in samples collected just in front of or directly from a fish's mouth. A zone of depressed oxygen concentration in the immediate vicinity of the fish was documented, with oxygen concentrations as low as 50% of the measured tank effluent concentration. The magnitude of the depression was greater in raceways than in circular tanks and in 20 cm water depth than in 10 cm depth. The fish remained sedentary in these zones of depressed oxygen concentration for extended periods of time and frequently exhibited hyperventilation. The oxygen concentrations in the vicinity of the fish were consistently lower than the concentrations measured in the tank effluent. Therefore, effluent measurements did not provide an accurate representation of conditions to which the fish were exposed.     

不同营养状况对鲫鱼偏好游泳速度的影响

为考察不同营养状况对鲤科鱼类偏好游泳速度的影响,本研究以鲫鱼(Carassius auratus)为实验对象,(25±1.0)℃条件下设置3个不同营养状况实验组:对照组(禁食48 h)、饱食组(饱食)和饥饿组(饥饿14 d),将单尾实验鱼置于梯度流速选择仪(流速范围为11.86~65.45 cm/s,等距离划分为5个流速区域,从第一到第五流速区域流速连续增加)中拍摄1 h,采用Ethovision XT9软件分析视频资料并计算实验鱼在不同流速区域平均进入频次(F,次)、单次进入停留时间(T,s/次)和平均停留时间百分比(P_t,%)等流速选择行为指标。结果显示,对照组和饱食组的F值随水流速度上升而增加,对照组的T值不同流速区域间无差异(P0.05),而饱食组第三和第四流速区域T值均显著大于其他流速区域(P0.05),因此两实验组第三和第四流速区域的P_t均显著大于其他流速区域,其偏好游泳速度为20.12~41.30 cm/s。饥饿组流速偏好行为出现表型分化,I型实验鱼在第一流速区域P_t和T值显著大于其他流速区域(P0.05),各流速区域的F值均显著小于其他实验组(P0.05),故I型实验鱼的偏好游泳速度为11.86~15.18 cm/s。而II型实验鱼则与对照组相似,在第三和第四流速区域Pt均显著大于其他流速区域(P0.05),故II型实验鱼的偏好游泳速度为20.12~41.30 cm/s。结果表明,饱食不影响鲫鱼的偏好游泳速度,可能是饱食不影响鲫鱼的游泳能力所致,但饱食组在各流速区域间的出入频次减少而停留时间有所增加。饥饿后鲫鱼偏好游泳速度出现表型分化,I型实验鱼的偏好游泳速度降低,而II型实验鱼则无明显变化,I型和II型实验鱼偏好游泳速度的差异可能是由于在饥饿条件下二者能量节约和游泳功能维持的策略不同。     

Behaviour of immature yellowtails (Seriola quinqueradiata) observed by electronic data-recording tags

The long-term behaviour of immature yellowtails, Seriola quinqueradiata , was studied using electronic data-recording tags in Sagami Bay, Japan, during the autumn and early winter. Temperature or depth data were continuously recorded for 5–69 days on six yellowtails. The temperature recorded from the 0-year-old yellowtails showed only small variations (<0.5°C day⁻¹) around the SST on the coast, indicating the 0-years stayed in the immediate coastal area with little horizontal movement. The 1-year-old yellowtail showed larger temperature variations that reached 3°C day⁻¹, which implies distinctly larger horizontal movements than the 0-year-olds. Depth records showed the 0-years stayed around 10 m while the 1-year yellowtail swam in deeper water (mainly 10–30 m) with large variations. The latter often dived to 40 m in the daytime, but shallower than the depth of the thermocline. Both temperature and depth records showed apparent diurnal patterns. Comparing the fish data with environmental conditions, it is suggested that 1-year yellowtails stay close to the coast during the night, move at dawn to feed in the daytime and return at dusk via a frontal zone. In addition, wind stress could change yellowtails' behaviour.     

Behavioral responses of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) to acute fluctuations in dissolved oxygen levels as monitored by computer vision

Behavioral and ventilatory parameters have the possibility of predicting the stress state of fish in vivo and in situ. This paper presents a new image-processing algorithm for quantifying the average swimming speed of a fish school in an aquarium. This method is based on the alteration in projected area caused by the movement of individual fish during frame sequences captured at given time intervals. The image enhancement method increases the contrast between fish and background, and is thus suitable for use in turbid aquaculture water. Behavioral parameters (swimming activity and distribution parameters) and changes in ventilation frequency (VF) of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) responded to acute fluctuations in dissolved oxygen (DO) which were monitored continuously in the course of normoxia, falling DO level, maintenance of hypoxia (three levels of 1.5, 0.8 and 0.3 mg l⁻¹) and subsequent recovery to normoxia. These parameters responded sensitively to acute variations in DO level; they displayed significant changes (P < 0.05) during severe hypoxia (0.8 and 0.3 mg l⁻¹ level) compared with normoxic condition, but there was no significant difference under conditions of mild hypoxia (1.5 mg l⁻¹ level). There was no significant difference in VF between two levels of severe hypoxia 0.8 and 0.3 mg l⁻¹ level during the low DO condition. The activity and distribution parameters displayed distinguishable differences between the 0.8 and 0.3 mg l⁻¹ levels. The behavioral parameters are thus capable of distinguishing between different degrees of severe hypoxia, though there were relatively large fluctuations.