Oxygen Consumption and Oxygen-Independence in Marine Crustaceans

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Abstract
Weight-specific O2 consumption (.ovrhdot.VO2) varied with body weight (w) in 4 crustacean species investigated under comparable experimental conditions. The value of the exponent b-1 relating .ovrhdot.VO2 to body weight was significantly different (P < 0.01) in the burrowing crustaceans Corystes cassivelaunus and Nephrops norvegicus, compared to the non-burrowing anomurans, Galathea strigosa and Pagurus bernharudus. A mathematical transformation was used to provide an index (K1/K2) of O2 independence. Using this index it was found that O2 independence was influenced by intrinsic factors (size and level of activity) and environmental factors (temperature and presence of substrate).