Abstract: By using Winkler′s method, this paper studied the variation patterns of the oxygen consumption rate of juvenile Siganus canaliculatus  (body mass (0.706±0.155) g, body length (3.325±0.205) cm) under effects of different water temperature, salinity, pH, and anaesthetics. The oxygen consumption rate of juvenile S. canaliculatus  was increased with the increase of water temperature and the decrease of water salinity, and the regressive correlations could be represented by logarithmic equation Y = 1.3819 ln X -3.55 ( r =0.9475,  P <0.01) and linear equation Y =-0.1802 X +1.7551  (r =0.9837,  P <0.01), respectively. The optimum temperature for the juvenile′s growth was from 24 ℃ to 32 ℃. Water pH also had significant effects (P<0.01) on the oxygen consumption rate which was the lowest at pH 6.0 and the highest at pH 9.0. The oxygen consumption rate decreased with increasing concentration of eugenol and MS-222, and was significantly lower in experimental groups than in control group. Eugenol and MS-222 could be used as the anaesthetics for the long distance transportation of juvenile  S. canaliculatus .

Key words: Grus japonensis, Migratory dynamics, Ecological environment change, Habitat conservation, Xianghai wetlands