Analysis of Power Curve Model on Swimming Locomotion in Qingbo(Spinibarbus sinensis)

To investigate the physiological mechanism and power adaptive strategy of swimming locomotion, we measured the critical swimming speed (Ucirt) and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) of juvenile qingbo (Spinibarbus sinensis), and analyzed their power curve models. The results found that the oxygen consumption rate (MO2) increased significantly with the increase of the swimming speed in juvenile qingbo (p< 0.05) and the relationship between MO2 and swimming speed (U) could be described as: MO2=222.97+0.148U2.204 (R2= 0.894, n= 61, p< 0.01) and MO2= 167.00e0.036U(R2= 0.895, n= 61, p< 0.01), respectively. After exhaustive exercise,the MO2 increased significantly and immediately reached the peak values (MO2peak), then, it resumed quickly to a steady state and thus turn into so called ‘slow oxygen debt repayment period’ (p<0.05). The study showed that qingbo had a strong aerobic but weak anaerobic metabolic ability. The MO2active during critical swimming speed was similar to the MO2peak elicited by exhaustive exercise. The locomotive strategy may relate to its low predator stress and active foraging mode in field.