Oxygen consumption of burbot, Lota lota (L.), fed different rations of vendace, Coregonus albula L.

The oxygen consumption of adult burbot, Lota lota CL.), was examined to det ermine the effects of fasting and meal ration on oxygen consumption rates. The temperature (2.1 degreesC) was selected to represent ambient conditions for burbot in winter. The average pre-feeding oxygen consumption rate was 29.5 mg kg(-1) h(-1). Feeding affected the oxygen consumption rates since t he apparent heat increment correlated significantly with the meal ration. H owever, the meal ration (i.e. vendace, Coregonus albula L.) did not affect the proportion of the ingested meal energy used in the apparent heat increm ent. When the meal ration was increased, peak oxygen consumption ranged fro m 1.2 to 2.2 times higher than the fasting level. Observed low oxygen consu mption values suggest that the metabolic processes of burbot are strongly r educed in low temperatures.