Journal of comparative physiology

, Volume 128, Issue 2, pp 109–116 | Cite as

Ventilation and control of acid-base status during temperature acclimation in the crab,Cancer magister

  • B. McMahon
  • Fiona Sinclair
  • C. D. Hassall
  • P. L. deFur
  • P. R. H. Wilkes
Article
Accepted:

Summary

Frequencies of scaphognathite (ventilatory,fsc) and heart (fh) pumping, oxygen consumption (\(\dot M_{O_2 }\)), and hemolymph oxygen, carbon dioxide and pH levels were measured in adult Dungeness crabs (Cancer magister) during 7–10 day periods of exposure to 7, 12, and 17°C seawater. Ventilation volume (\(\dot V_w\)) was calculated for individual animals fromfsc and a previously determined relationship between stroke volume and animal mass.

\(\dot M_{O_2 }\) increases (Q10=2.3) with temperature were associated with larger increases infsc (Q10=3.3) and\(\dot V_w\) (Q10=3.5) and smaller increases infh (Q10=1.5). The incidence of unilateral scaphognathite pumping and pausing decreased as temperature rose.

Postbranchial oxygen tension was maintained in vivo but hemolymph oxygen content decreased both in vivo and in vitro as temperature rose. Postbranchial carbon dioxide tension did not change significantly but relative alkalinity was maintained as temperature rose by loss of hemolymph bicarbonate. The effects of increased ventilation volume and potential mechanisms of bicarbonate regulation are discussed.

The responses of the essentially subtidalCancer magister are compared with those of subtidal, intertidal and terrestrial crabs demonstrating that the concepts of acid-base regulation developed for water and air breathing vertebrates are also applicable to water and air breathing crabs, and that intertidal crabs may exhibit transitional states.

Keywords

Carbon Dioxide Bicarbonate Alkalinity Stroke Volume Oxygen Tension 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1978

Authors and Affiliations

  • B. McMahon
    • 1
  • Fiona Sinclair
    • 1
  • C. D. Hassall
    • 1
  • P. L. deFur
    • 1
  • P. R. H. Wilkes
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of BiologyUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryCanada

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