Changes of activity level with tail oscillation of goldfish, Carassius auratus, exposed to various temperatures.

Essay by jojozhao March 2006

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ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship of the activity level of goldfish as temperature increases. Number of tail oscillations in 60 seconds of goldfish has been tested at 8oC, 18oC and 28oC in two separately trials by using timer and clicker and at each temperature 6 same sized and coloured goldfish was tested. In trial one, the mean number of tail oscillation at 8oC, 18oC and 28oC are 51, 105 and 84 respectively and in trial two, the mean number of tail oscillation at 8oC, 18oC and 28oC are 62, 51 and 96 respectively. The results appeared that there were no significant differences between the activity level of goldfish and the change of temperature. However, in both trials at room temperature (18oC) goldfish had an extreme response compared to other two temperatures. It is concluded that variations of environmental temperature produces no significant changes in goldfish.

INTRODUCTION

Many factors could affect the behaviors of goldfish, but among other factors, temperature exerts an important constraint on the activity level of Carassius auratus.

The water temperature of goldfish in natural environment keeps changing during four seasons, so the study of temperature changes with the activity level of goldfish is very valuable to understand more about how goldfish behaves in the nature environment (Arms and Camp 1979). Also as the Global Warming is becoming a big issue in the future, we have to consider how the temperature increase will affect goldfish's normal behaviors (Campbell and Reece 2002). In the natural environment, goldfish can live from 0oC to 35oC and the growth rate is directed related with the temperature (Astanin and Podornyy 1968). Astanin and Podornyy (1968) found the growth rate was increased as temperature shifted from low to high, but no cell growth was observed when temperature...