Bioenergetic aspects of juvenile Haemulon steindachneri collected at Ubatuba (23°30'S), SP, Brazil, were evaluated as function of body weight and temperature (15°C, 20°C e 26°C) through the oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion analyses. Q10 values and elevations a of the regression of oxygen consumption on wet weight at 15°C and 20°C were not significantly different. On the other hand, Q10 and elevations a were significantly different between 20°C and 26°C. It is suggested that 15-20°C is a temperature range of thermal metabolic independence for H. steindachneri, and this might be related to physiological adaptation to the environmental constraints. Daily energetic costs of routine metabolism were calculated from oxygen consumption data and other parameters of the bioenergetic equation were estimated following a model proposed in the literature. For a fish of 20g and 70g body weight (the minimum and maximum common weights at the 3 tested temperatures), it was estimated that their daily energetic demand at 15°C were 868.83 cal/day and 3168.65 cal/day; at 20°C are 893.22 cal/day and 2654.04 cal/day and at 26°C were 1390.30 cal/day and 5046.61 cal/day. Results contribute to the understanding of the ecological role of the species and its adaptation to the environment.
Haemulon steindachneri; Bioenergetic; Metabolism; Oxygen Consumption; Ammonia excretion
