Effects of temperature on the fast‐start swimming performance of an Australian freshwater fish

The fast‐start swimming performance of juveniles of an Australian freshwater (warm‐water) fish, golden perch, was examined in the laboratory at six water temperatures ranging between 10 and 25 °C. Fast‐start swimming performance of fish was considerably reduced at temperatures less than 15.5 °C. Temperatures of less than 15 °C are typical of the thermal regime downstream of large dams in south‐eastern Australia, where conditions are more suited to introduced cold‐water fish species. We conclude that the swimming performance of native warm‐water fish such as golden perch is likely to be negatively affected by cold‐water releases from deep outlets in thermally stratified dams.