OXYGEN-CONSUMPTION OF THE FLATFISH PARALICHTHYS ORBIGNYANUS IN DIFFERENT SALINITY AND TEMPERATURE CONDITION

Among several fish species inhabiting the coast of Rio Grande do Sul and the estuary of Patos Lagoon, the flatfish Paralichthys orbignyanus is one of the most important fishing resources. Attempting to introduce this species in aquaculture in a near future, several works have been realized with the Principal objective to determine the tolerance of P. orbignyanus to different environmental factors. The flatfish were acclimated in summer (25 degrees C and 30 PSU) and winter (12 degrees C and 0 PSU) condictions. The oxygen consumption was measured by meaner of a continous flow respirometer. The oxygen consumption in the winter condition was 0,100 +/- 0,045 mg 02/g/h and in the summer condiction was 0,183 +/- 0,31 mg 02/g/h. The results showed a significative difference (P < 0.05) between the metabolism in the conditions test. Therefore the increase of 50% of the consumption in the summer conditions should be considered small, because the increase of the temperature was high, showing that the temperature causes few modifications in the metabolism of P. orbignyanus, even in this range of temperature.