On the Temperature Dependence of Energy Metabolism in Fish of Black and Azov Seas

Dependence of the energy metabolism (by oxygen) on the temperature in six species of fish (little and common mullets, atherine, high body pickarel, whiting, Neogobius melanostomus) has been considered resting on the authors’ data and those available in literature. The temperature coefficient Q10 is calculated on the basis of the average values of oxygen uptake per mass unit by the equation Q=ak for the temperature range of 2.5-27 °C. Q10 is stated to decrease for each species of fish with a rise of the temperature. Average species values of the coefficient in cryophilic species within the range of 10-20°C are higher than in thermophilic ones (limits of 1.74-2.74). Average value of Q10 for all the studied species at 10-20°C equals 2.18