Attitude of Baikal and Palearctic amphipods to oxygen as a factor of environment and mechanism of adaptation to its lowered level

Abstract

The paper presents the materials of a comparative study of characteristics of anaerobic mechanisms use under the conditions of lowered oxygen content by Baikal amphipods Eulimnogammarus vittatus (Dyb.), E. cyaneus (Dyb.), as well as by Palearctic Gammarus lacustris Sars. It is shown that the system of anaerobic metabolism works most effectively for Palearctic G. lacustris. This species is characterized by the least degree of use of low-efficient way of energy production—anaerobic lipolysis, and the highest degree of use of the most efficient way of energy production under the conditions of low oxygen content-anaerobic succinate production. For the Baikal species that are less resistant to the lowered level of oxygen we show more expressed induction of anaerobic lipolysis and lower degree of engagement of anaerobic succinate production.