Effects of temperature, salinity and sex on the basal metabolic rate of the estuarine copepod Pseudodiaptomus hessei

Abstract

Respiratory responses of Pseudodiaptomus hessei measured under different conditions show an exponential increase in metabolic rate with temperature, but no changes with salinity. All metabolic demands of this species are met through consumption of microalgae during the closed (winter) phase, but not during the open (summer) phase of the estuary.