Oxygen and the developing eggs and larvae of the lumpfish, Cyclopterus lumpus

Abstract

Unfertilized eggs in the oviducts of female lumpsuckers are exposed to low oxygen tension (ca. 40% air saturation). After spawning and fertilization water agitation aids percolation of water through Cyclopterus egg masses, but early in development oxygen tensions within non-ventilated egg masses fall slowly because of the eggs’ low metabolic rate (consistent with their slow development – 40 days to hatching at 5 °C). There is a considerable increase in oxygen uptake at hatching; in this respect the lumpsucker resembles the herring, Clupea harengus.Early stage eggs are tolerant of hypoxic conditions and can even survive brief exposure to anoxic sea water. Later eggs and larvae are much more susceptible to oxygen lack. However, fanning behaviour by the brooding male parent (usually assumed to be designed to promote oxygen uptake by egg masses) is almost continuous at the beginning of development but becomes less frequent later. It is suggested that the initial intensive fanning helps to drive off ammonia which is released as the eggs stick together.