Summary
The effect of temperature on respiration rate has been established, using Cartesian divers, for the meiofaunal sabellid polychaeteManayunkia aestuarina, the free-living nematodeSphaerolaimus hirsutus and the harpacticoid copepodTachidius discipes from a mudflat in the Lynher estuary, Cornwall, U.K. Over the temperature range normally experienced in the field, i.e. 5–20° C the size-compensated respiration rate (R c) was related to the temperature (T) in °C by the equation Log10 R c=-0.635+0.0339T forManayunkia, Log10 R c=0.180+0.0069T forSphaerolaimus and Log10 R c=-0.428+0.0337T forTachidius, being equivalent toQ 10 values of 2.19, 1.17 and 2.17 respectively. In order to derive the temperature response forManayunkia a relationship was first established between respiration rate and body size: Log10 R=0.05+0.75 Log10 V whereR=respiration in nl·O2·ind-1·h-1 andV=body volume in nl.
TheQ 10 values are compared with values for other species derived from the literature. From these limited data a dichotomy emerges: species with aQ 10≏2 which apparently feed on diatoms and bacteria, the abundance of which are subject to large short term variability, and species withQ 10≏1 apparently dependent on more stable food sources.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Hemmingsen, A.M.: Energy metabolism as related to body size and respiratory surfaces, and its evolution. Rep. Steno. Hosp. (Kbh.)9 (2), 1–11 (1960)
Holter, H.: Techniques of the Cartesian Diver. C-r. Trav. Lab. Carlsberg (Chim.)24, 399–478 (1943)
Hopkins, J.T.: A study of the diatoms of the Ouse estuary, Sussex. III. The seasonal variation in the littoral epiphyte flora and the shore plankton. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K.44, 613–644 (1964)
Joint, I.R.: Microbial production of an estuarine mud flat. Est. cstl. mar. Sci.7, 185–195 (1978)
Klekowski, R.Z.: Cartesian diver microrespirometry of aquatic animals. Polsk. Arch. Hydrobiol.18, 93–114 (1971)
Lasker, R., Wells, J.B.J., McIntyre, A.D.: Growth, reproduction, respiration and carbon utilisation of the sand-dwelling harpacticoid copepod,Asellopsis intermedia. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K.50, 147–160 (1970)
Lasserre, P.: Données écologiques sur la répartition des oligochètes marins méiobenthiques. Incidence des paramètres salinité —température sur le métabolisme respiratoire de deux espèces euryhalines du genreMarionina Michaelsen (1889) (Enchytraeidae Oligochaeta). Vie et Milieu22, 523–540 (1971)
Lasserre, P.: Metabolic activities of benthic microfauna and meiofauna. In: The benthic boundary layer (I.N. McCave, ed.), pp. 95–142. New York-London: Plenum Press 1976
Lasserre, P., Renaud-Mornant, J.: Interprétation écophysiologique des effets de température et de salinité sur l'intensité respiratoire deDerocheilocaris remanei biscayensis Delamare, 1953 (Crustacea, Mystacocarida). C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. D,272, 1159–1162 (1971)
Lee, D.L., Atkinson, H.J.: Physiology of nematodes. (2nd Ed.) 215 pp., London: Macmillan Press 1976
Miller, R.J., Mann, K.H.: Ecological energetics of the seaweed zone in a marine bay on the Atlantic coast of Canada. III. Energy transformations by sea urchins. Mar. Biol.18, 99–114 (1973)
Teare, M., Price, R.: Respiration of the meiobenthic harpacticoid copepod,Tachidius discipes Giesbrecht, from an estuarine mudflat. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol.41, 1–8 (1979)
Vernberg, W.B., Coull, B.C.: Respiration of an interstitial ciliate and benthic energy relationships. Oecologia16, 259–264 (1974)
Warwick, R.M., Joint, I.R., Radford, P.J.: Secondary production of the benthos in an estuarine environment. Proc. 1st Europ. Ecol. Symp. 429–450 (1979)
Warwick, R.M., Price, R.: Macrofauna production in an estuarine mud flat. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K.15, 1–18 (1975)
Warwick, R.M., Price, R.: Ecological and metabolic studies on free-living nematodes from an estuarine mud flat. Est. coastl. mar. Sci.9, 257–271 (1979)
Wieser, W.: Temperature relations of ectotherms. A speculative review. In: Effects of temperature on ectothermic organisms (W. Wieser, ed), pp. 1–23. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1973
Wieser, W., Schiemer, F.: The ecophysiology of some marine nematodes from Bermuda: seasonal aspects. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol.26, 97–106 (1977)
Zeuthen, E.: Cartesian diver respirometer. Biol. Bull. mar. Lab. Woods Hole98, 303–318 (1950)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Price, R., Warwick, R.M. The effect of temperature on the respiration rate of meiofauna. Oecologia 44, 145–148 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00572671
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00572671