The Dependence of Crustacean Respiration Rate on Body Mass and Habitat Temperature

Abstract

The respiratorion rates of Crustacea from temperate and tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean were measured directly at habitat temperatures of 19, 25 and 29 °C. The results were analysed together with data obtained from similar investigations in previous years (Ivleva, 1977) on Crustacea from moderately cold and polar latitudes at 10, 6 and 0 °C. Variations of the values for A and k in generalized regressions (R = AWκ) for Crustacea within the temperature limits of the physiological range were shown to have quite a clear‐cut and regular character. The coefficient k varied from 0.60 to 0.79 and revealed a tendency to increase as temperatures decreased. The value of A increased with rising temperature within all intervals from 0 to 30 °C. The quantitative relationship between respiration rate and temperature was evaluated by the Arrhenius equation. Statistical processing of resultant data indicated a rather close association between log A and the habitat temperature of the Crustacea but only slight deviations from the theory of empirically found values. The accelerating effect of temperature (μ) was 13 ± 0.13 keal/mol. This value was used to calculate Q10, which was more convenient for practical purposes.