Variation in size at hatching is common in demersal spawning organisms, suggesting that processes during embryonic development may be critical in determining growth and development. To examine critical periods during embryonic development in the demersal spawning reef fish Amphiprion melanopus, the rate of oxygen consumption within an egg clutch was compared to morphological changes in the embryos. Oxygen consumption was least on day 1 of development where organ differentiation had not begun (mean 1.73±0.34×10-5 μmol O2 egg-1 s-1). Tail movement throughout the perivitelline fluid began on day 3 and is likely to assist in moving oxygen around the embryo, complementing diffusive transport. The appearance of haemoglobin in the blood corresponded to a peak in oxygen consumption on day 4, where the highest mean rate of oxygen consumption was recorded (6.73±0.82×10-5 μmol O2 egg -1 s-1). This could be a critical period in development whereby risk of mortality is increased through increased embryo requirements at developmental thresholds. © 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Biological Sciences
Research Group:	Zoology
Research Field:	Animal physiology - biophysics
Objective Division:	Expanding Knowledge
Objective Group:	Expanding knowledge
Objective Field:	Expanding knowledge in the environmental sciences
UTAS Author:	Green, BS (Associate Professor Bridget Green)
ID Code:	44468
Year Published:	2004
Web of Science® Times Cited:	16
Deposited By:	TAFI - Marine Research Laboratory
Deposited On:	2007-10-17
Last Modified:	2007-10-17
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