Effects of Long-Term Storage on the Oxygen Uptake of Cryptopygus antarcticus (Collembola)

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Abstract
During storage of the collembolan C. antarcticus Willem at +5.degree. C for > 387 days both respiration and metabolic rates of size class V and IV individuals declined significantly. For pooled data for adults of both size classes this decline was calculated as: log10 MR = 2.359 - 0.145 log10 T (where MR: metabolic rate in .mu.l O2g-1 h-1 and T: time in d). No differences were detected between the sexes, but a significant difference (P < 0.05) in metabolism existed between fresh animals measured at the start of the storage experiment and earlier in the austral summer at Signy Island [Antarctica]. The respiration and metabolic rates of the stored individuals were similar to those from earlier measurements made in the United Kingdom on individuals subjected to similar treatment. The metabolic decline may be an adaptation to constant temperature unrelated to nutritional conditions. Short- and long-term metabolic adaptation is discussed in relation to studies on mites, nematodes and other invertebrates.

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