Oxygen consumption of Callianassa kraussi Stebbing (Thalassinidea, Decapoda, Crustacea) in relation to various environmental conditions

Abstract

Oxygen consumption experiments were performed on the thalassinid prawn, Callianassa kraussi Stabbing, using an open flow system coupled to a Radiometer electrode and a continuous recorder. The effect of starvation, sex, body size, salinity, temperature, seasons and reduced oxygen tensions on the respiratory rates of the prawns were investigated. Of these factors, body size, temperature and seasons appeared to have the greatest effect. The results obtained showed oxyqen consumption of C. kraussi increasing with mass by the mean power of 0,72, a mean Q₁₀ value of 2,80, a higher metabolism (at a given temperature) in winter than in summer and a similar respiration rate (at a given temperature) at salinities of 35 and 17 °/00.

S. Afr. J. Zool.1987, 22(3)