RESPIRATORY METABOLISM OFMACROBRACHIUM OLFERSII(WIEGMANN) ZOEAE DURING THE MOULTING CYCLE FROM ECLOSION TO FIRST ECDYSIS

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Abstract
The respiratory metabolism of 1st stage M. olfersii (Wiegmann) zoeae was measured at 12 h intervals with Cartesian diver microrespirometers throughout the 120 h period from eclosion to 1st ecdysis. Weight-specific O2 consumption rates, although slightly higher immediately after hatching, remained constant and did not differ significantly during the 1st molting cycle. Larval dry weight decreased from 21.8-18.9 .mu.g during this period. There was no evidence of a diurnal metabolic pattern. The molting cycle was subdivided according to morphological characteristics, based on the degree of cytoplasmic homogeneity, epidermal retraction and stage of setal development in the telson. Larval metabolism may be uniform throughout the eclosion-1st ecdysis period, in spite of a distinct and divisible molting cycle.