Shaun Killen recently returned from a 3-week trip to Brazil to work with friends and colleagues David McKenzie, Andrew Esbaugh, and Tadeu Rantin. The main aim was to study how metabolic rate and social interactions affect surfacing behaviour in air-breathing catfish. An important side mission was to have fun and sample the local caipirinhas.
The arena used to study air-breathing behaviour in groups of catfish. The tank was originally blue, but we needed it to be white for the filming. Urine-proof bed sheets to the rescue!
All fish were beaded for identification while in the behavioural arena.
Andrew demonstrates his sewing technique.
We used bimodal respirometry to measure the amount of oxygen the fish breath from the water and from the air.
David setting up the respirometers.
Caipirinha time!