Juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, 5–13 g) were chronically exposed to sublethal Al (38 μg∙L−1) in acidified soft water (Na+ = 85, Ca2+ = 28 μEq∙L−1, pH 5.2–5.4) for 36 d. Acclimation (increased resistance to challenge with 162 μg Al∙L−1 Al at pH 5.2) occurred after 5 d and was associated with a fourfold increase in gill mucous cell density and reduction in apparent lamellar surface area; initially elevated blood–water diffusion distances returned to normal after 34 d, but the reduction in apparent surface area persisted. Chronic exposure to acid alone (pH 5.2, same water chemistry) caused no morphometric changes but resulted in persistent impairment of Ucrit (critical aerobic swimming speed) by about 10%. This was due to increased oxygen requirements at subcritical swimming speeds (loading stress) and was alleviated when trout were swum at pH 6.5 (zero Al) on day 36. In trout preexposed to sublethal Al, Ucrit was chronically impaired by approximately 16% due to loading stresses and reduction in the maximum rate of oxygen uptake, Mo2max (limiting stress); Ucrit and Mo2max remained depressed even when fish were swum at pH 6.5 (zero Al). Reduced gill area compromises the aerobic scope for activity but may be an unavoidable cost of acclimation to Al.
Site selection and production performance of rainbow trout(Oncorhynchus mykiss)cage operations in small farm reservoirs: the Western Cape experience, South Africa