Oxygen Consumption and Oxygen-Independence in Marine Crustaceans

Abstract

Weight-specific oxygen consumption (VOSUB-2 ) varied with body weight (w) in four crustacean species investigated under comparable experimental conditions. The value of the exponent b-1 relating VOSUB-2 to body weight was significantly different (P <0.01) in the burrowing crustaceans Corystes cassivelaunus and Nephrops norvegicus , compared to the non-burrowing anomurans, Galathea strigosa and Pagurus bernhardus . A mathematical transformation was used to provide an index (KSUB-1 /KSUB-2 ) of oxygen independence. Using this index it was found that oxygen independence was influenced by intrinsic factors (size and level of activity) and environmental factors (temperature and presence of substrate).