Studies on oxygen consumption in digenetic trematodes. VI. The influence of temperature on larval trematodes

Abstract

1. 1. The metabolic response of two species of larval trematodes has been determined at temperatures varying from 6–41 ° C. 2. 2. The two species of trematodes used are Himasthla quissetensis, found in sea gulls in the adult stage, and Zoögonus rubellus, which utilizes marine fish as the definitive host. The larval stages of both species are found in the mud-flat snail, Nassarius obsoleta. 3. 3. The larvae of the fish parasite die within a half hour at 39 ° C, while the larvae of the bird parasite were still alive and active at the end of a six hour period at 41 ° C. 4. 4. The Q 10 values of the larvae of H. quissetensis tended to reflect the temperature of the definitive host.