Oxygen uptake in developing eggs and larvae of the cod, Gadus morhua L.

Abstract

Unfertilised cod eggs showed a mean oxygen uptake rate at 5°C of 0.089 μl O2, dry wt.−1 h−1; this gradually rose to 0.768 μl O2 mg dry wt.−1 h−1 in eggs about to hatch. From hatching to complete yolk absorption larvae respired at 1.6 μl O2, mg dry wt.−1 h−1. During starvation following yolk absorption, uptake fell significantly to 1.1 μl O2, mg dry −1 h−1. Much of this decrease in oxygen consumption was shown to be caused by reduction in activity. Loss of weight during the embryo and larval phases could not easily be reconciled with total oxygen consumption; it is suggested that cod embryos and larvae may not rely solely upon endogenous energy reserves during development.