Aerial Oxygen Consumption Research Articles

Combined effects of temperature and copper on oxygen consumption and antioxidant responses in the mudflat fiddler crab Minuca rapax (Brachyura, Ocypodidae)

This study investigates the combined effects of waterborne copper exposure and acute temperature change on oxygen consumption and the oxidative stress biomarkers, glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), in the gills and hepatopancreas of the fiddler crab Minuca rapax. Crabs held at 25 °C were acclimated to 0 (control), 50, 250 or 500 μg Cu L−1 for 21 days, and were then subjected to 15, 25 and 35 °C for 24 h. Aerial oxygen consumption rates of crabs in copper free media increased with increasing temperature from 15 to 35 °C, Q10 values reaching ≈3. Crabs exposed to increasing copper concentrations exhibited variable responses, Q10 values falling to ≈1.5. Copper had no effect on oxygen consumption at 25 °C. However, at 35 °C, rates decreased in a clear concentration-response manner in the copper exposed crabs, revealing impaired aerobic capability. At 15 °C, oxygen consumption rates increased with copper concentration, except for a decrease at 500 μg Cu L−1. Gill GST activity was ≈2-fold that of the hepatopancreas, while hepatopancreas GPx activity was 3-fold that of the gills. Gill GST activities were reduced by copper exposure only at 25 °C while hepatopancreas GST activities were altered by copper at all temperatures. Hepatopancreas GST and GPx activities increased in crabs exposed to copper at 35 °C, revealing oxidative stress induction. Hepatopancreas GST and GPx activities were reduced in copper exposed crabs at 15 °C, suggesting a diminished capability to mitigate the effects of copper exposure at low temperature. These findings reveal that copper exposure increases oxygen consumption at low temperatures but decreases consumption at high temperature. Hepatopancreas GPx activities decreased at low temperature and increased at high temperature. These novel findings demonstrate that the interaction between copper exposure and temperature should be considered when evaluating biomarker activities in semi-terrestrial crabs.

The influence of feeding on aerial and aquatic oxygen consumption, nitrogenous waste excretion, and metabolic fuel usage in the African lungfish, Protopterus annectens

We studied the utilization of air versus water as a respiratory medium for O2consumption (Mo2) in the bimodally breathing African lungfish, Protopterus annectens (Owen, 1839), (151.2 ± 3.7 g) at 26–28 °C. We also investigated the impact of a single meal on this respiratory allocation and nitrogenous waste excretion in lungfish entrained to a 48 h feeding cycle. Correction for the “microbial blank” was found to be critically important in assessing the aquatic component of Mo2. After correction, total Mo2was low (~1000 μmol·kg–1·h–1), and lungfish took about 40% of Mo2from water and 60% from air. Following a meal of chironomid larvae (3.3% of body mass), Mo2values from both air and water increased in proportion over the first 3 h and continued to increase to a peak at 5–8 h postfeeding, at which point total Mo2(still 40% from water) was approximately 2.5-fold greater than the prefeeding level. When the same fish, entrained to the same 48 h feeding regime, were fasted, Mo2declined then later increased prior to the next anticipated feeding. In fed fish, the elevation in Mo2relative to fasted values was approximately 3-fold at 0–3 h and 9-fold at 5–8 h. This specific dynamic action (SDA) effect lasted until 23–26 h and amounted to only 9.5% of the oxycalorific content of the ingested meal. N-waste efflux was only slightly elevated after feeding, where there was a tendency for greater urea–N excretion (significant at 42–48 h); however, the lungfish remained ammoniotelic overall during the 48 h postfeeding period.

Respiratory allocation and standard rate of metabolism in the African lungfish, Protopterus aethiopicus

This paper quantifies the relationship between respiratory allocation (air vs. water) and the standard rate of metabolism (SMR) in the primitive air-breathing lungfish, Protopterus aethiopicus. Simultaneous measurements of oxygen consumed from both air and water were made to determine the SMR at ecologically relevant aquatic oxygen levels for juveniles 2 to 221 g. Total metabolic rate was positively correlated with body mass with a scaling exponent of 0.78. Aerial oxygen consumption averaged 98% (range = 94% to 100%) of total respiratory allocation under low aquatic oxygen levels. Measurements of oxygen consumption made across a gradient of dissolved oxygen from normoxia to anoxia showed that P. aethiopicus maintains its SMR despite a change in respiratory allocation between water and air.

Physiological adaptations to high intertidal life involve improved water conservation abilities and metabolic rate depression in Littorina saxatilis

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 224:171-186 (2001) - doi:10.3354/meps224171 Physiological adaptations to high intertidal life involve improved water conservation abilities and metabolic rate depression in Littorina saxatilis I. M. Sokolova1,2,*, H. O. Pörtner1 1Alfred-Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Columbusstrasse 3, 27568 Bremerhaven, Germany 2White Sea Biological Station, Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab., 1, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia *Present address: Department of Zoology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada. E-mail: innas@bms.bc.ca ABSTRACT: Mortality, rates of water loss, aerobic and anaerobic metabolic rates and changes in the parameters of cellular energy status were monitored in the intertidal gastropod Littorina saxatilis from different latitudes and shore levels during prolonged air exposure at elevated temperatures (30°C). Prolonged air exposure, imitating environmental conditions during summer low tide at high-shore levels, resulted in the onset of anaerobic metabolism, as indicated by the significant accumulation of succinate and alanine and a considerable depletion of high-energy phosphates (ATP and phospho-l-arginine, PLA). However, anaerobic metabolism accounted for only 1 to 2% of total ATP turnover in all groups, the remainder being supplied by aerobic metabolism. Snails from the White Sea population, which were more resistant to prolonged air exposure at 30°C than North Sea specimens, demonstrated higher anaerobic capacity and a depression of overall metabolic rate by ca 20% in air, whereas the less-resistant North Sea animals displayed very low anaerobic metabolic rates and elevated aerial oxygen consumption rates (110 to 125% of the rate observed in water). Within the White Sea population, high-shore periwinkles demonstrated higher resistance to prolonged air exposure than low-shore specimens associated with lower evaporation water loss, reduced rates of anaerobic ATP turnover, higher stores of l-aspartate and lower defended values of ATP and PLA. In contrast, no differences were found between high- and low-shore snails in the North Sea. This may reflect environmental conditions at the 2 study sites, with stronger contrasts between high- and low shore habitats in the White Sea than in the North Sea. In general, our data show that adaptation to prolonged air exposure at elevated temperatures, which may occur at high-shore levels during summer low tide, does not necessarily involve increased anaerobic capacity in L. saxatilis. Instead, enhanced abilities for water conservation and metabolic rate depression combined with increased stores of fermentable substrate seem to be crucial for survival during prolonged periods of emersion. KEY WORDS: Intertidal · Air exposure · Anaerobiosis · Respiration · Water loss · Metabolic rate · Littorina saxatilis Full text in pdf format PreviousNextExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 224. Online publication date: December 18, 2001 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2001 Inter-Research.

Tolerance of forced air emergence by a fish with a broad vertical distribution, the rockpool blenny, Hypsoblennius gilberti (Blenniidae)

Many intertidal fishes, particularly among the Blenniidae and Cottidae, possess amphibious adaptations, including the ability to breathe in air and to avoid desiccation in terrestrial conditions. These traits are absent in subtidal species of blennies and cottids. Hypsoblennius gilberti, the rockpool blenny, is found in shallow rockpools in the mid to high intertidal areas of Southern California, and deeper to 18 m in the subtidal zone. This broad vertical distribution could indicate that this blenny is adapted for tidal air emergence, although H. gilberti has not been observed out of water in its natural habitat. H. gilberti does not emerge voluntarily from hypoxic sea water in the laboratory, but it easily withstands 3 h out of water. The aerial respiratory exchange ratio (CO2 released compared to O2 consumed) is 0.70, similar to that of amphibious intertidal fishes in air, indicating sufficient release of metabolically produced CO2 while emerged. There is no increase in aquatic respiration following emergence. However, unlike other amphibious fishes that maintain aerial oxygen consumption at a level similar to aquatic oxygen consumption, H. gilberti has an aerial oxygen consumption rate one-third that in water. H. gilberti can recover rapidly from terrestrial water loss, and shows no change in evaporative water loss rates at 93% and 77% relative humidities. The amphibious capabilities in H. gilberti, even if rarely used, permit survival in air during tidal emergence. These findings suggest that H. gilberti may demonstrate an intermediate condition between the amphibious species of intertidal fishes that regularly emerge from water, and the subtidal fishes that do not survive air emergence and are completely restricted to an aquatic habitat.

Carapace movements aid air breathing in the semaphore crab, Heloecius cordiformis (Decapoda: Brachyura: Ocypodidae)

While on land and recirculating branchial water the Australian semaphore crab Heloecius cordiformis (Decapoda: Ocypodidae), a semi-terrestrial airbreathing mangrove crab, sequentially depresses and elevates its carapace in a regular pump-like manner. The functional role of these carapace movements in aerial oxygen consumption is investigated. Carapace immobilisation (reversible and non-injurious) did not appear to affect branchial water circulation. In “dry” crabs (branchial water removed) carapace immobilisation had no effect on the rate of oxygen consumption (VO2), heart rate or whole-body lactate (WBL) levels. In “wet” crabs (with branchial water) carapace immobilisation caused VO2 to drop by 38% from 81 to 46 μl O2 · g-1 · h-1, heart rate to decline by 32%, from 2.5 to 1.7 Hz, and WBL levels to increase over 2.5-fold, from 0.27 to 0.67 mg · g-1, after 3 h of carapace immobilisation. The (VO2) of carapace-immobilised crabs with branchial water was similar to lung-occluded crabs with branchial water. Severe hypoxia induced physiological responses similar to those of carapace-immobilised crabs with branchial water. After 3 h of severe hypoxia, heart rate had declined by 80%, from 2.2 to 0.43 Hz, and the incidence of carapace pumping slowed by 85%, from 2.4 to 0.37 cycles · min-1. It is concluded that in the absence of carapace movements branchial water in some way inteferes with lung ventilation. Under normal circumstances water circulation and lung ventilation are mutually exclusive processes (due to their singular dependence on the scaphognathites), yet in Heloecius these processes must be carried out simultaneously. Carapace movements may alleviate this conflict.

The effect of temperature and season on the aerial oxygen consumption of Uca urvillei (H. Milne Edwards) (Decapoda: Ocypodidae)

1. 1.|The summer and winter aerial respiration of Uca urvillei was measured. Both temperature and body mass were found to be important influencing factors. Values ranged between 19.8–192 μl O 2/g/h. 2. 2.|Winter acclimatized crabs consumed more oxygen than summer acclimatized crabs, but seasonal differences (winter vs summer) were only significantly different at 25°C. 3. 3.|This partial seasonal acclimatization is probably due to the zoogeographic position of this tropical species in southern Africa close to its southern limit of distribution. 4. 4.|Q 10s varied between 1.73 and 4.62. Values decreased with temperature but not mass, except in winter when small crabs exhibited high values of 10°C, probably as this is close to their lower lethal limit; an important factor in distribution.

Aquatic and aerial respiration of crassostrea rhizophorae

1. I. Rates of oxygen consumption in water (.VO 2w) and air (.VO 2A) were determined for the mangrove oyster Crassostrea rhizophorae. 2. 2. The ratio of aerial: aquatic .VO 2 (.VO 2A: .VO 2W) was 0.43, suggesting relatively high aerobicity during the first 2 hr of aerial exposure. 3. 3. Air-gaping facilitates .VO 2A and the degree of valve gape is proportional to .VO 2 in air and water. 4. 4. Previous studies indicating high survival rates in air are likely to be accounted for, in part, by aerial oxygen consumption and not an overt resistance to hypoxia or asphyxia.

Respiration in air and water of some semi- and fully terrestrial talitrids (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Talitridae)

Aerial and aquatic rates of oxygen consumption were determined for the semi-terrestrial beachfleas Orchestia mediterranea (Costa), O. gammarellus (Pallas) and O. cavimana (Heller) and the fully terrestrial landhopper Arcitalitrus dorrieni (Hunt) over the temperature range (10–30 °C). There was little difference between the rates for Orchestia gammarellus and O. mediterranea in air and water but the rates of aerial oxygen consumption of both O. cavimana and Arcitalitrus dorrieni were significantly reduced on immersion. All animals were able to survive prolonged submersion with the exception of A. dorrieni. The aerial and aquatic oxygen consumption rates of all species increased directly with an increase in experimental temperature. The ability of talitrid amphipods to maintain an aerial rate of oxygen consumption following immersion can be correlated to some extent with the degree of emancipation from the aquatic environment. The mechanisms involved, however, are far from clear.

Effects of Ambient Oxygen Tension and Temperature on the Bimodal Respiration of an Air-Breathing Teleost, Channa maculata

Bimodal oxygen consumption of Channa maculata was measured at 15 C and 25 C in water of different oxygen tensions (Pwo2). In normoxic water (Pwo2 = 130 mmHg), aerial respiration accounted for 34% of the total oxygen consumption (V̇o2) at 15 C and for 60% at 25 C. No significant difference between water oxygen consumption (V̇wo2) at 15 C and 25 C was found. The Q10 value of the total V̇o2 was 2.3. During exposure to hypoxic water (Pwo2 ⩽ 30 mmHg), V̇wo2 decreased while aerial oxygen consumption (V̇ao2) increased, so that the total V̇o2 remained nearly constant at both 15 C and 25 C. At both temperatures, the frequency of aerial ventilation also increased with decreasing Pwo2. However, the amount of oxygen uptake per aerial ventilatory cycle decreased in hypoxic water at 25 C but remained unchanged at 15 C. It appeared that the maximum aerial oxygen consumption in hypoxic water at 25 C was limited by the rate of oxygen absorption in the air-breathing organ. Channa maculata decreased its gill ventilation frequency in response to hypoxic water. However, it continued to extract oxygen from water even when Pwo2 was 20 mmHg. This study showed that the relative contribution of aerial versus aquatic respiration to the total oxygen uptake in C. maculata was altered by changes in ambient temperature and oxygen tension.

Aquatic and aerial oxygen consumption of cool temperate gastropods: A comparison with some mediterranean species

1. 1. Rates of oxygen consumption of three cool temperate gastropods Littorina littorea, Nucella lapillus and Gibbula cineraria were measured in air and water at temperatures from 5 to 20°C. 2. 2. No evidence of thermal acclimation was apparent from the rates of oxygen consumption of the high-shore Litorina littorea or the low-shore Gibbula cineraria at 10–20°C compared to those of their Mediterranean counterparts at 20°C in either air or sea-water. 3. 3. Mediterranean gastropods have an estimated daily aerobic energy expenditure of between 2–3 times that of the cool temperate species. 4. 4. The oxygen consumption of the cool temperate Nucella lapillus displays inverse acclimation during winter.

Aquatic and aerial respiration of an intertidal tropical gastropodMorula granulate (Duclos) in relation to temperature

The rates of aquatic and aerial oxygen consumption of an intertidal tropical gastropodMorula granulate increases with increasing temperature. The temperature at which the breakdown occurred in their oxygen consumption was observed to be different, 45°C for aquatic and 42°C for aerial respiration. However, the aquatic rates of oxygen consumption were higher than the aerial rates at all temperatures studied. The aquatic and aerial Q10 values showed almost the same trend, higher at lower temperatures and vice versa. The results were discussed in relation to the habitat of the animal.

Effects of submersion on the oxygen consumption of the estuarine sandhopper Transorchestia Chiliensis (Milne Edwards, 1840)

Oxygen consumption of Transorchestia chiliensis (Milne Edwards) was measured in air and following submersion in sea water of salinity 34%.. In all experimental conditions oxygen consumption increased with dry body weight; the weight exponent in air was 0.76 ( sd ± 0.16) and 0.63 ( sd ± 0.08) in aquatic conditions. At exposure temperatures > 10°C, aquatic rates were consistently below the aerial rate of oxygen consumption, which increased with temperature up to 20°C in winter amphipods and up to 25°C in summer samples. Following submergence, winter-collected amphipods showed maximal oxygen consumption at 10° C and lower oxygen uptake at15°C than at 5°C. For summer amphipods seasonal adjustment in the slope of the R-T curve for aquatic respiration resulted in a plateau of temperature-independent metabolism at temperatures between 5 and 20°C. Oxygen consumption of winter- and summer-collected Transorchestia stored at a constant temperature of 15°C showed a similar relationship between size and oxygen uptake to seasonally collected amphipods. In all acclimated amphipods the oxygen consumption in water remained markedly temperature-dependent up to an exposure temperature of 25°C. Although aerial oxygen consumption of winter-acclimated amphipods approximated the summer values, storage at constant temperatures could not effect completely the changes observed in the aquatic oxygen consumption of seasonally collected amphipods. The ability of Transorchestia to maintain its oxygen uptake at various temperatures following submergence is discussed in relation to the submersion tolerance and its position as a semi-terrestrial member of the supralittoral fringe of New Zealand shores.

A Unique Respiratory Adaptation to Emersion in the Introduced Asian Freshwater Clam corbicula Fluminea (Müller) (Lamellibranchia: Corbiculacea)

When exposed to air, the Asiatic clam, Corbicula fluminea, periodically consumes oxygen across exposed mantle-edge tissues sealed together by hardened mucus. This behavior alternates with longer periods of valve closure (mean mantle-edge exposure time = 49 min; mean valve closure time =426 min). At 20 C, aerial oxygen uptake rates were very reduced during valve closure periods, averaging 0.03 μl O₂/(mg dry flesh ¸ h), whereas during mantle-edge exposure they averaged 0.88 μl O₂/(mg dry flesh · h). Total aerial oxygen consumption was approximately 21% that of normal aquatic values in this species. This aerial respiratory behavior appears to be an adaptation to prolonged emersion, allowing both maintenance of substantial levels of aerobic metabolism and minimal evaporative water loss. Corbiculafluminea has a relatively short fossil history in fresh water, and many of its physiological adaptations appear to be intermediate between those of estuarine bivalves and the more highly evolved freshwater species. It...

Bimodal respiration of intertidal pulmonates

1. 1. Aerial and acquatic rates of oxygen consumption were determined for the intertidal pulmonates Benhamina obliquata and Siphonaria zelandica at 10°C. 2. 2. There was no significant difference between the levels of oxygen consumption of Benhamina obtiquata in air and water but the aerobic metabolism of Siphonaria zeiandica was significantly reduced during submersion. 3. 3. Rates of oxygen consumption of the rocky shore pulmonates are similar to those of intertidal prosobranchs in aquatic and aerial environments. 4. 4. The ratios of aquatic to aerial oxygen consumption for pulmonates from mangrove, salt marsh, mud flat and rocky shore habitats are correlated with the presence or absence of a secondary gill.

Aerial Activity Oxygen Consumption during Metamorphosis of the Bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana

Aerial Activity Oxygen Consumption during Metamorphosis of the Bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana

Responses to Acute Aquatic Hypoxia In Larvae of the Frog Rana Berlandieri

ABSTRACT The oxygen consumption of larvae of the trog Rana berlandieri Baird was reduced during exposure to aquatic hypoxia at 25 °C, and under severe hypoxia the larvae lost oxygen to the water. The larvae responded to aquatic hypoxia by increasing aerial oxygen consumption and lung ventilatory frequency, and also by altering their heart rate and gill ventilation frequency. Under severe or prolonged aquatic hypoxia without access to air, Rana larvae accumulated lactate. When prevented from breathing air, the larvae were unable to compensate fully by increasing their aquatic oxygen consumption. Body size or the interaction of body size and oxygen partial pressure significantly affected the aerial oxygen consumption, the total oxygen consumption and gill ventilation frequency, but did not affect other aspects of larval gas exchange. Anuran larvae resemble air-breathing fishes in some responses to aquatic hypoxia (e.g. increased dependence upon aerial oxygen uptake and changes in ventilatory frequencies), but are unusual in some ways (e.g. oxygen loss to the water). The interactions of body size and hypoxia are not sufficient to explain why so many anuran larvae without lungs are small.

Respiration in air and water of four mediterranean trochids

The oxygen consumption of inactive animals of four species of Mediterranean trochid was measured in air and sea water at temperatures commonly recorded on the shore. The loss of mantle cavity fluid significantly lowered the aerial oxygen consumption of all four species. The aquatic oxygen consumption of the four species after 12 h settlement in the respirometer was not significantly different from that measured after 1 h. The high-shore Monodonta lurbinata (Born) and M. articulata (Lamarck) experience a maximum of 60 to 70% aerial exposure, wide temperature fluctuations, and can maintain an aerial rate of oxygen consumption similar to the aquatic rate. They have temperature dependent rates of oxygen consumption with similar Q 10 values in both air and water between 20 and 30°C. The low-shore Gibbula richardi (Dayraudeau) and G. rarilineata (Michaud) are characterized by a low maximum percentage aerial exposure, a more stable thermal environment, an aerial rate of oxygen consumption lower than the aquatic rate, temperature dependent respiration rates between 20 and 30°C in sea water but a temperature coefficient not significantly different from 1 in air. These patterns of oxygen consumption are reflected in the 50% survival times of the trochids in air at 25°C. The pattern of respiration in air and water of a wide range of intertidal gastropods has been related to the maximum percentage aerial exposure experienced on the shore.

A review of the effects of temperature on the oxygen consumption of intertidal gastropods

A multiple regression analysis has been used to relate oxygen consumption, body weight, and temperature, for 8 species of gill-bearing intertidal gastropods. Using a standard sized animal, the oxygen consumption of the snails in sea water at each temperature is very similar and the analysis gives a Q 10 of 2.1. In air the mid and high shore species have similar rates of oxygen consumption to those in water and a Q 10 of 2.2. The low shore species show lower values for both aerial oxygen consumption and Q 10. Similar patterns have been found in a further 20 species.

The influence of mantle cavity fluid on the aerial oxygen consumption of some intertidal gastropods

The intertidal gastropods Gibbula cineraria (L.), Nucella lapillus (L.), and Littorina littorea (L.) have been investigated. Animals that had attached to a plastic surface under sea water were exposed to air and rapidly frozen. Fluid was found to be retained within the mantle cavity in contact with the gill. For each species the weight of the mantle cavity fluid retained in air was related to the whole weight of the animal. There was no significant difference between the weight of fluid held by animals in the laboratory and that held by animals on the shore 2 h after aerial exposure. The oxygen consumption of inactive individuals in air was measured by two techniques which did not produce significantly different results. The aerial oxygen consumption of all three species was lowered by the loss of mantle cavity fluid. This also reduced the temperature coefficient. A correlation is suggested between a large weight of mantle cavity fluid, the presence of a gill in the mantle cavity and a large reduction in oxygen consumption upon the loss of fluid.