Seasonal, Geographical and Size Differences in Oxygen Consumption, Digestive Gland and Gills in Carcinus maenas (L), a Study of Condition for Ecologists |
| |
| Authors: | John Carlson Aldrich |
| |
| Institution: | Department of Zoology, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland |
| |
| Abstract: | Abstract. The excited rate of oxygen consumption, and the wet weights of the digestive gland and the gills were studied in relation to overall size. One experiment was made in Roscoff, France, one in Portaferry, N. Ireland, and three in Wicklow, Ireland. Higher levels of oxygen consumption were found in Roscoff together with greater gill weight. Seasonal changes in the level of oxygen consumption in Wicklow may be influenced by the dry wt/wet wt ratio of the gills - probably an index of condition for the crabs as a whole. The power functions for allometric growth were virtually constant for each factor in all five experiments. All levels of factors were reduced in males weighing more than 60 g. Disproportions in the weights of the chelae marked the populations in Roscoff and Portaferry, compared with Wicklow. These suggest a genetic basis for the geographical differences in oxygen consumption and gill weight. The importance of local experiments for local conditions and the possibilities for predicting physiological rates from morphology are discussed. |
| |
| Keywords: | Seasons geographical races size differences condition oxygen consumption Carcinus maenas allometry |
|
|
