Some Factors Affecting the Oxygen Consumption of Asellus

ABSTRACT The oxygen-consumption rates of Asellus aquaticus (males and females) have been measured at 10 and 20° C. using a constant-volume respirometer, and the effect of starvation for 24 hr. investigated. The oxygen consumption is approximately proportional to the 0.7 power of the wet weight. The rate of oxygen consumption at 20° C. is greater than at 10° C. by a factor of 1-5. The oxygen-consumption rates of A. aquaticus and A. meridianus have been measured at 20° C. in a flowing-water respirometer employing a polarographic technique for the measurement of dissolved-oxygen concentrations. The oxygen consumptions of A. aquaticus and A. meridianus are similar and decrease by 15-20% when the dissolved-oxygen concentration falls from 8.3 to 1.5 p.p.m. The oxygen consumption of A. aquaticus is between 35 and 75 % higher in the polarographic respirometer than in the constant-volume respirometer.