Temperature Acclimation of Mytilus Edulis With Reference to its Energy Budget

Abstract

Mytilus edulis L. is shown to acclimate to high and low temperature under laboratory conditions. The warm and cold acclimation of oxygen consumption, filtration rate and assimilation efficiency are described for groups of animals maintained at three food-cell concentrations. Complete acclimation (Precht's type 2) of oxygen consumption and filtration rate occur within 14 days. There is no change in assimilation efficiency within the 28-day experimental period. The results are integrated and discussed in the context of a simple energy budget. In terms of the energy budget there exists a marked contrast between warm and cold acclimation. An “index of energy balance” is proposed in order to assess the state of the energy balance. When animals are fed above the maintenance requirement the energy budget remains in an equilibrium state during cold acclimation, whereas the acclimation to a warm temperature regime disrupts the balance and represents a physiological stress. During warm acclimation, prior to the re-establishment of an energy equilibrium the blood sugar level increases, suggesting that the animal is required to mobilize and utilize its energy reserves.