The metabolic cost of food utilization and ammonia production by juvenile Macrobrachiumrosenbergii (Crustacea: Palaemonidae)

Abstract

1. 1. A calorigenic effect of diet was noted for a plant, animal and a commercial pelletized diet in juvenile Macrobrachium rosenbergii. 2. 2. No significant relationship could be determined between the amount ingested and the increase in the rate of metabolism. 3. 3. The ammonia production rate was not influenced by diet but was related to the weight of the individual. 4. 4. The specific dynamic effect was greatest for the tubificid diet which increased the standard metabolic rate by 39.4%. Commercial and Cladophora diets caused increases of 19.9 and 7.1%, respectively.