Oxygen consumption in Caridina nilotica (Decapoda: Atyidae) in relation to temperature and size |
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Authors: | R. C. HART |
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Affiliation: | Institute for Freshwater Studies, Rhodes University, South Africa |
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Abstract: | SUMMARY. The oxygen consumption of shrimps ranging from 1 to 30 mg dry mass was determined at 18, 24 and 30°C using a continuous flow recording respirometer based upon a Clark-type oxygen electrode. Respiration (ascribed to routine metabolism) is described by the power curve: R = a Mb , ( R =μg O2 h−1, M = mg dry mass), which gives values of a = 1.632, 2.564 and 4.181, and b = 0.800, 0.898, and 0.793, at 18, 24 and 30°C respectively. The single expression, R = 0.008 T 1.829 M 0.830 provides a reasonable prediction of respiration as a combined function of shrimp size ( M ) and temperature (T, °C). Using an energy equivalent of 14.14 J mg O2−1 estimates of the energy requirements ( E , J h−1 10−3) of routine metabolism are given by the expression: E = 0.115 T 1.829 M 0.830. Variability in oxygen consumption values between individuals is discussed and the observations on C. nilotica are compared with other crustacean studies. |
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