Aquatic and aerial oxygen consumption of cool temperate gastropods: A comparison with some mediterranean species

Abstract

1. 1. Rates of oxygen consumption of three cool temperate gastropods Littorina littorea, Nucella lapillus and Gibbula cineraria were measured in air and water at temperatures from 5 to 20°C. 2. 2. No evidence of thermal acclimation was apparent from the rates of oxygen consumption of the high-shore Litorina littorea or the low-shore Gibbula cineraria at 10–20°C compared to those of their Mediterranean counterparts at 20°C in either air or sea-water. 3. 3. Mediterranean gastropods have an estimated daily aerobic energy expenditure of between 2–3 times that of the cool temperate species. 4. 4. The oxygen consumption of the cool temperate Nucella lapillus displays inverse acclimation during winter.