The influence of starvation and amino acids on metabolism of the Antarctic amphipod Waldeckia obesa

Abstract

The average oxygen consumption of well-fed Waldeckia obesa individuals, whose average wet weight equals 318.3 mg is, 74.7 μL, O2 ind -1 h-1 at the temperature 0°C. On average, 10-day-long starvation reduces the metabolism level by 36%, and 30-day-long starvation by 66%, compared to well-fed individuals. Investigations concerned the influence of 12 amino acids at the 10 mM concentration on W. obesa respiration. Amongst animals starved for 10 days, the addition of amino acids does not lead to statistically significant changes in metabolism rates, while amongst animals starved for 30 days, arginine leads to an 241% increase in metabolism rates. Glutamic acid constitutes about 10% of all amino acids in the body of W. obesa and more than 15% in the Nototenia neglecta fish, which is a food resource for this crustacean.