Thermal acclimation to 4 or 10A°C imparts minimal benefit on swimming performance in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.)

Thermal acclimation is frequently cited as a means by which ectothermic animals improve their Darwinian fitness, i.e. the beneficial acclimation hypothesis. As the critical swimming speed (U (crit)) test is often used as a proxy measure of fitness, we acclimated Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) to 4 and 10A degrees C and then assessed their U (crit) swimming performance at their respective acclimation temperatures and during acute temperature reversal. Because phenotypic differences exist between different populations of cod, we undertook these experiments in two different populations, North Sea cod and North East Arctic cod. Acclimation to 4 or 10A degrees C had a minimal effect on swimming performance or U (crit), however test temperature did, with all groups having a 10-17% higher U (crit) at 10A degrees C. The swimming efficiency was significantly lower in all groups at 4A degrees C arguably due to the compression of the muscle fibre recruitment order. This also led to a reduction in the duration of "kick and glide" swimming at 4A degrees C. No significant differences were seen between the two populations in any of the measured parameters, due possibly to the extended acclimation period. Our data indicate that acclimation imparts little benefit on U (crit) swimming test in Atlantic cod. Further efforts need to identify the functional consequences of the long-term thermal acclimation process.