Oxygen consumption by the bivalve Donax vittatus (da Costa)

The acute oxygen consumption of Donax vittatus (da Costa) freshly collected at different times from a beach at Barrassie, Ayrshire, Scotland, has been measured at different temperatures. The logarithmic relationship between oxygen consumption and body weight showed a significant difference on only one occasion, and a common regression coefficient (b) of 0.865 could be used for regressions of oxygen consumption on weight. Over the temperature range 2.9–20 °C oxygen consumption rose with temperature. There was a linear decline of Q₁₀ with temperature in the range 2.9 –20 °C. Differences in values of the constant (a) in the regression equation suggest that there is some acclimation to temperature, resulting in rotation of the rate/temperature curve counterclockwise for warm-acclimated animals, and a reduction of Q₁₀ in cold-acclimated animals. The differences in oxygen consumption which result are small and appear to have little practical significance. High levels of metabolically-inactive materials such as stored glycogen reserves lead to a reduction in the weight-specific oxygen consumption. Spawning animals show an increased oxygen consumption.