Thermal dependence of clearance and metabolic rates in slow- and fast-growing spats of manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum

Thermal dependence of clearance rate (CR: l h^?1), standard (SMR: J h^?1) and routine metabolic rates (RMR: J h^?1), were analyzed in fast (F)- and slow (S)-growing juveniles of the clam Ruditapes philippinarum. Physiological rates were measured at the maintenance temperature (17 °C), and compared with measurements performed at 10 and 24 °C after 16 h and 14 days to analyze acute and acclimated responses, respectively. Metabolic rates (both RMR and SMR) differed significantly between F and S seeds, irrespective of temperature. Mass-specific CRs were not different for F and S seeds but were significantly higher in F clams for rates standardized according to allometric size-scaling rules. Acute thermal dependency of CR was equal for F and S clams: mean Q ₁₀ were ≈3 and 2 in temperature ranges of 10–17 and 17–24 °C, respectively. CR did not change after 2 weeks of acclimation to temperatures. Acute thermal effects on SMR were similar in both groups (Q ₁₀ ≈ 1 and 1.6 in temperature ranges of 10–17 and 17–24 °C, respectively). Large differences between groups were found in the acute thermal dependence of RMR: Q ₁₀ in F clams (≈1.2 and 1.9 at temperature ranges of 10–17 and 17–24 °C, respectively) were similar to those found for SMR (Q ₁₀ = 1.0 and 1.7). In contrast, RMR of S clams exhibited maximum thermal dependence (Q ₁₀ = 3.1) at 10–17 °C and become depressed at higher temperatures (Q ₁₀ = 0.9 at 17–24 °C). A recovery of RMR in S clams was recorded upon acclimation to 24 °C. Contrasting metabolic patterns between fast and slow growers are interpreted as a consequence of differential thermal sensitivity of the fraction of metabolism associated to food processing and assimilation.