Physiological effects of a gill barnacle on host blue crabs during short‐term exercise and recovery

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Abstract
The effects of infestation by an ectocommensal gill barnacle, Octolasmis muelleri, on the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, were assessed by measuring respiratory and hemolymph parameters in barnacle‐infested and uninfested crabs during short‐term exercise and recovery. At rest, uninfested crabs had lower heart rates (78 beats min‐1) and ventilation rates (74 beats min‐1) than moderately infested crabs (93 beats min‐1 and 92 beats min‐1 respectively) and heavily infested crabs (104 beats min‐1 and 123 beats min‐1 respectively). During exercise and recovery these differences disappeared as all groups of crabs elevated both rates to near maximal levels. Hemolymph O2 concentrations, O2 tensions, pH and [lactate] were not different for the three groups of crabs, but, heavily infested crabs had a greater a‐v difference in Po2 than the other groups of crabs during exercise, as well as a significant a‐v difference in pH and [lactate] during exercise. The overall minimal disturbance to the crabs's hemolymph caused by the gill barnacle is probably due to the crab's well developed aerobic exercise capacity.

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