Thesis subject
Investigating the swimming endurance of the common sole (Solea solea)
Although sole and plaice are commercially targeted flatfish species, little is known about their true swimming capacity. This study aims to determine the maximum swimming endurance of the common sole using a modified flow tunnel and novel experimental protocol.
The common Sole (Solea solea) and European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) are two economically important flatfish species caught by beam-trawling. The ability of these fish to avoid capture is related to their swimming speed, swimming capability, manoeuvrability, and endurance. To determine the relationship between swimming endurance, swimming speed, and fatigue, swimming performance studies generally either use a forced (fixed-velocity and critical-velocity test) or volition (open-channel test) swim tests. However, these performance protocols often do not account for the summed metabolic expenditure up to the point of fatigue.
Following the completion of various pilot studies, we have developed a novel protocol that potentially provides greater endurance resolution in swimming performance tests due to the incorporation of periodic recovery periods. This protocol is to be tested in a modified Lolligo® swim tunnel.
In this thesis project, you will investigate the swimming endurance of juvenile common sole. The study will be conducted using the developed protocol and the modified flow tunnel. To our knowledge, this will be the first study to quantify the swimming endurance of this species of sole under laboratory conditions. This project will entail conducting various endurance trials, hands-on experience handling juvenile (~18 – 25cm) sole, operating a swim tunnel, capturing high-speed/real-time video, and data analysis.
Skills you will be using/learning are:
- Designing of experiments
- Video tracking
- Handling of live fish
- 3D high speed video techniques
- Statistics
Are you interested? Please contact via ezo.thesis@wur.nl.