Adjustments of Energy and Water Metabolism to Drought in an Australian Arid-Zone Crab

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Abstract
The Australian arid-zone crab Holthuisana transversa reduces both oxygen consumption and evaporative water loss by one-half when transferred from hydrating to dehydrating conditions. When crabs are placed in artificial burrows subject to progressive drying, oxygen consumption is further reduced by 30%-40% of the initial level, prior to the onset of conditions resulting in weight loss. We interpret these responses to represent a state of physiological dormancy, an energy-conserving device permitting these crabs to withstand long periods of drought in humid burrows where they are without immediate access to food.