The influence of temperature on the haemocyanin function and oxygen uptake of the freshwater crab Potamonautes warreni calman

Abstract

1. 1. At 35°C a maximal VO 2 value of 110 ml O 2/kg/hr was obtained with a significant decrease in the value at 40°C. 2. 2. The Bohr-effect for P. warreni is — 0.28 and does not change significantly at 15, 25 and 35°C. 3. 3. The ability of the crab to extract oxygen from the water medium during a single exhalation is on average 41.2% whilst the limitation diffusion ( L. diff, Piiper, [1982], A Companion to Animal Physiology, pp. 49–64. Cambridge University Press.) is 0.84. 4. 4. Compared to land and marine crabs, in P. warreni, the P aO 2 (29.5 mm Hg) and the P vO 2 (15.3 mm Hg) is low.