AJP - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Vol 240, Issue 1 87-R92, Copyright © 1981 by American Physiological Society
Scope for activity in the crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus
P. S. Rutledge and A. W. Pritchard
The scope for activity of the crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus was
determined between 5 and 30 degrees C (incipient lethal of 33 degrees C).
Standard oxygen consumption rate (VO2) ws low (e.g., 17 ml x kg-1 x h-1 at
20 degrees C); and it increased with temperature over the entire range (Q10
= 2.09 for 5-25 degrees C). Active VO2 increased with temperature (Q10 =
1.76) to a maximum at 20 degrees C (VO2 = 176 ml x kg-1 x h-1), and then
decreased. Scope for activity likewise showed a maximum at 20 degrees C
(VO2 - 158 ml x kg-1 x h-1) and decreased at higher temperatures.
Comparison with fish studies indicates these values represent a relatively
well-developed oxygen uptake ability in this decapod crustacean. At 20
degrees C crayfish active VO2 is a significant fraction of that shown by
highly active VO2 is a significant fraction of that shown by highly active
species such as sockeye (29%), and moderately active species such as
goldfish (57%), bullhead (62%), and bass (78%); and it is much greater than
active VO2 for sluggish species such as gobiids (> 300%). Also, crayfish
scope for activity between 5 and 20 degrees C is virtually identical to
scopes for bullhead and bass because crayfish have lower standard VO2 than
either of these fish.
