Abstract
The nonsiphonate protobranch bivalve mollusc Nucula sulcata lives in sediments that may be oxygen depleted or completely anoxic. The species survives for 2 weeks in an oxygen-free environment at 10°C. Oxygen consumption is low (mean 1.57 μmol.g−1.h−1) but is within the range of infaunal lamellibranch bivalves. N. sulcata is able to maintain its rate of oxygen consumption approximately constant down to a Pc of 15–20 Torr. Like some other protobranchs, N. sulcata has haemocyanin within its haemolymph. The haemocyanin has a very high affinity for oxygen (P50 = 0.94 Torr), but oxygen binding by the pigment is noncooperative. In addition, the haemocyanin concentration and the oxygen-carrying capacity (CHCYO2 = 0.35 ± 0.08 mmol.l−1 of the haemolymph are low.
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