Effects of Temperature on Oxygen Consumption Rate and Ammonia Excretion Rate of Sinonovacula constricta

The effects of temperature on oxygen consumption rate and ammonia excretion rate of the constricted tagelus (Sinonovacula constricta) were studied in laboratory. The results showed that under the controlled conditions of ambient temperature 15～30 ℃, the relationship between oxygen consumption rate (O) [mg/h] and dry weight of soft tissue W(g) can be represented by the allometric equation O = aW~b, The relationship between ammonia excretion rate (N)[μg/h] and dry weight of soft tissue W(g) can also be represented by the allometric equation N = cW~d. It is indicated that the oxygen consumption rate (O_s)[mg/g·h] and ammonia excretion rate (N_a)[μg/g·h] are correlated positively with the water temperature and the high temperature can reduce the level of protein metabolism at the temperature range 15～30 ℃. The linear regression relationships among oxygen consumption rate (O) and temperature and dry weight of soft-tissue can be described by O = -0.3703 + 0.3204W + 0.0298T, and ammonia excretion rate (N) can be done by N = -154.0677 + 69.7488W + 7.9332T, the multiple relation coeffreient were 0.9773 and 0.9228 respectively.