Field evaluation of oxygen consumption by two freshwater decapod morphotypes (Trichodactylidae and Aeglidae); the effect of different times of the day, body weight and sex

DIAWOL, V.; TORRES, M.V.; COLLINS, P.

MARINE AND FRESHWATER BEHAVIOUR AND PHYSIOLOGY

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2016

1023-6244

We report an analysis of the effect of two different times of day (noonand dusk), body weight and sex on the oxygen consumption rate (OCR)of the freshwater crabs Trichodactylus kensleyi (Trichodactylidae), Aeglasingularis and A. platensis (Aeglidae) in their natural environment. Bothfamilies are sympatric in the studied locations, with a co-occurrencefound between T. kensleyi and A. singularis or T. kensleyi and A. platensis.The mean OCR was highest in A. singularis and lowest in A. platensis.The OCR was higher in Aegla species at noon, and Trichodactylusconsumed more oxygen at dusk. In aeglids, there was no differencein oxygen consumption between noon and dusk. T. kensleyi exhibitedstatistically significant differences in the OCR between noon and dusk.The oxygen uptake of all three species analysed was not influencedby the sex of the individual but varied according to the animals weight. The families evaluated share some biological and ecologicalcharacteristics, such as diet and habitats, but the strategies used in theregulation of gas exchange at different times of the day were different.Environmental factors may be influencing the oxygen consumptionof each morphotype differently.