Ref ID : 1452
Galina A. Galkovskaya; Oxygen consumption rate in rotifers. Hydrobiologia 313/314:147-156, 1995
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The oxygen consumption rate (OCR) is a cumulative index of metabolic losses during aerobic metabolism. The generalized relationship of oxygen consumption rate (R, nl O2 ind.-1 hr-1) and dry body mass (M, µg) for rotifers is described by the equation: R=9.15M(0.716). The level of rotifer metabolism is slightly lower than that of multicellular poikilothermic animals. Differences of OCR values in ontogenesis are substantial. Embryos and senile individuals are characterized by minimal OCR values. The OCR of oviparous females in the beginning of reproduction exceeds 2-3 times OCR volues of juveniles. Differences in oxygen consumption intensity (OCI) are not so essential. OCR depends on food concentration. An increase of food concentration from 1.4 to 7.0 µg mass ml-1 resulted in Brachionus calyciflorus in an OCR escalation of 2.5 times at 30 degrees C, and 0.5 times at 25 degrees C. Maximal OCR values occur at food concentration close to the saturation concentration for population growth rate. An exponential equation is adequate to describe R-t dependence for animals long-term adapted to different constant temperatures (2 over Q10<3). Acclimation effects observed during sharp temperature changes are determined by peculiarities of compensation reactions in species and separate populations. The formation of a zone of relative temperature independence of OCR (Q10>1) at fluctuating temperature is observed. It is necessary to study enzymatic activities parallel to OCR and OCI measurement.