Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of temperature on the respiratory metabolism of three Chesapeake Bay bivalves

  • Published:
Chesapeake Science

Abstract

Respiratory rates ofMacoma balthica, Mulinia lateralis andMya arenaria were determined under an experimental design using acclimation and exposure temperatures ranging from 1 to 30 C. Rates decreased with increasing size and in general varied directly with temperature. However, high temperatures (30 C) depressed metabolism of cold-acclimatedMulinia andMya.

Very youngMya were less affected by high temperature (30 C) than wereMya a few months older.Mya andMulinia demonstrated acclimation pattern III A. SmallMacoma had pattern III B, which changed to IV C for larger animals.

Macoma was least affected by high or low temperature stress, followed byMya, thenMulinia. All three species were able to compensate for temperature change to a varying extent.

Unseasonal artificial warming of the benthic environment could elevate metabolism of the species studied, which could lead to starvation if food were scarce, especially in winter.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • ANSELL, A. D. 1963. The biology ofVenus mercenaria in British waters, and in relation to generating station effluents.Ann. Rep. Challenger Soc. 3(15):18.

    Google Scholar 

  • — 1969. Thermal releases and shellfish culture: possibilities and limitations.Chesapeake Sci. 10(3–4):256–257.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —, K. F. LANDER J. COUGHLAN and F. A. LOOSEMORE. 1964. Studies on the hard clamVenus mercenaria in British waters. I. Growth and reproduction in natural and experimental colonies.J. Appl. Ecol., 1:63–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BAPTIST, J. P. 1955. Burrowing ability of juvenile clams.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Spec. Sci. Rept.-Fish. No. 140:1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • BARNES, H., and M. BARNES. 1969. Seasonal changes in the acutely determined oxygen consumption and effect of temperature for three common cirripedes,Balanus balanoides (L.),B. balanus (L.) andChthamalus stellatus (Poli).J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 4:36–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BAYNE, B. L. 1967. The respiratory response. ofMytilus perna L. (Mollusca: Lamellibranchia) to reduced environmental oxygen.Physiol. Zool. 40:307–313.

    Google Scholar 

  • BEAVEN, G. F. 1960. Temperature and salinity of surface water at Solomons, Maryland.Chesapeake Sci. 1:2–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BERTALANFFY, L. VON. 1951. Metabolic types and growth types,Amer. Nat. 85:111–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BRUCE, J. R. 1926. The respiratory exchange of the mussel (Mytilus edulis L.).Biochem. J. 20:829–846.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • BULLARD, R. W. 1964. Animals in aquatic environments: annelids and molluscs, p. 683–695.In D. B. Dill, E. F. Adolph and C. G. Wilber (ed.), Adaptation to the Environment, Sect. 4 of Handbook of Physiology. Amer. Physiol. Soc., Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • BULLOCK, T. H. 1955. Compensation for temperature in the metabolism and activity of poikilotherms.Biol. Rev. 30:311–342.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • CALABRESE, A. 1969.Mulinia lateralis: molluscan fruit fly?Proc. Nat. Shellfisheries Assoc. 59:65–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • CORY, R. L., and J. W. NAUMAN. 1967. Temperature and water quality conditions for the period July 1963 to December 1965, Patuxent River estuary, Maryland.U.S. Geol. Survey Open File Rep. Washington, D.C. 71 p.

  • DAM, L. VAN. 1935. On the utilization of oxygen byMya arenaria.J. Exp. Biol. 12:86–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • DAVIES, P. S. 1966. Physiological ecology ofPatella. I. The effect of body size and temperature on metabolic rate.J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 46:647–658.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, and M. WALKEY. 1966. The effect of body size and temperature upon oxygen consumption of the cestodeSchistocephalus solidus (Muller).Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 18:415–425.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DICKIE, L. M. 1958. Effects of high temperature on survival of the giant scallop.J. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada. 15:1189–1211.

    Google Scholar 

  • FISHER, R. A., and F. YATES. 1963. Statistical Tables for Biological, Agricultural and Medical Research. 6th ed. Hafner, New York. 146 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • FRY, F. E. J. 1967. Responses of vertebrate poikilotherms to temperature, p. 375–409.In A. H. Rose (ed.), Thermobiology. Academic Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • GILSON, W. E. 1963. Differential respirometer of simplified and improved design.Science 141:531–532.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • HAMILTON, D. H., Jr., and D. A. FLEMER, CAROLYN W. KEEFE and J. A. MIHURSKY. 1970. Power plants: Effects of chlorination on estuarine primary production.Science 169:197–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • HAMWI, A., and H. H. HASKIN. 1969. Oxygen consumption and pumping rates in the hard clamMercenaria mercenaria: a direct method.Science 163:823–824.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • HANKS, R. W. 1968. Benthic community formation in a “new” marine environment.Chesapeake Sci. 9:163–172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • HARLEMAN, D. R. F. 1969. Mechanics of condenser water discharge from thermal-power plants, p. 144–164.In Parker, F. L. and P. A. Krenkel (eds.) Engineering Aspects of Thermal Pollution. Vanderbilt U. Press, Nashville, Tenn.

    Google Scholar 

  • HEMMINGSEN, A. M. 1960. Energy metabolism as related to body size and respiratory surfaces, and its evolution.Rep. Steno Mem. Hosp., Copenhagen. 9:7–110.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • KENNEDY, V. S., and J. A. MIHURSKY. 1971. Upper temperature tolerances of some estuarine bivalves.Chesapeake Sci. 12(4):193–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • KRUGER, F. 1960. Zur Frage der Grössenabhangigkeit des Sauerstoffverbrauchs vonMytilus edulis L.Helgoländ wiss. Meeresunters. 7:125–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • KUENZLER, E. J. 1961. Structure and energy flow of a mussel population in a Georgia salt marsh.Limnol. Oceanogr. 6:191–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LAMMENS, J. J. 1967. Growth and reproduction in a tidal flat population ofMacoma balthica (L.).Netherlands J. Sea Res. 3:315–382.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LAWTON, J. H., and J. RICHARDS. 1970. Comparability of Cartesian Diver, Gilson, Warburg and Winkler methods of measuring the respiratory rates of aquatic invertebrates in ecological studies.Oecologia (Berl.). 4:319–324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MCFARLAND, W. N., and P. E. PICKENS. 1965. The effects of season, temperature, and salinity on standard and active oxygen consumption of the grass shrimp,Palaemonetes vulgaris (Say).Can. J. Zool. 43:571–585.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MIHURSKY, J. A. 1967. On possible constructive uses of thermal additions to estuaries.BioScience 17(10):698–702.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • — 1969. Patuxent Thermal Studies. Special Report No. 1, Natural Resources Inst., University of Maryland, College Park. 20p.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, and V. S. KENNEDY. 1967. Water temperature criteria to protect aquatic life.Am. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ., No. 4:20–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, A. J. MCERLEAN and V. S. KENNEDY. 1970. Thermal pollution, aquaculture and pathobiology in aquatic systems.Jour. Wildl. Diseases. 6:347–355.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MORGAN, R. P., and R. G. STROSS. 1969. Destruction of phytoplankton in the cooling water supply of a steam electric station.Chesapeake Sci. 10(3–4):165–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MORTON, J. E., A. D. BONEY and E. D. S. CORNER. 1957. The adaptations ofLasaea rubra (Montagu), a small intertidal lamellibranch.J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 36:383–405.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • NEWELL, R. C., and H. R. NORTHCROFT. 1967. A re-interpretation of the effect of temperature on the metabolism of certain marine invertebrates.J. Zool., Lond. 151:277–298.

    Google Scholar 

  • PAMATMAT, M. M. 1969. Seasonal respiration ofTransennella tantilla Gould.Am. Zoologist 9:418–426.

    Google Scholar 

  • PARKER, F. L., and P. A. KRENKEL. 1969. Thermal Pollution: Status of the Art. Vanderbilt University, School of Engineering, Nashville, Tenn.

    Google Scholar 

  • PFITZENMEYER, H. T. 1965. Annual cycle of gametogenesis of the softshelled clam,Mya arenaria, at Solomons, Maryland.Chesapeake Sci. 6:52–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • PICKENS, P. E. 1965. Heart rate of mussels as a function of latitude, intertidal height, and acclimation temperature.Physiol. Zool. 38:390–405.

    Google Scholar 

  • PRECHT, H. 1958. Concepts of the temperature adaptation of unchanging reaction systems of cold-blooded animals, p. 50–77.In C. L. Prosser (ed.), Physiological Adaptation. Amer. Physiol. Soc., Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • PROSSER, C. L. 1958. General Summary: the nature of physiological adaptation, p. 167–180.In C. L. Prosser (ed.), Physiological Adaptation. Amer. Physiol. Soc., Washington, D.C..

    Google Scholar 

  • —, and F. A. BROWN, Jr. 1961. Comparative Animal Physiology. 2nd ed. W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia. 688 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • RAO, K. P., and T. H. BULLOCK. 1954. Q10 as a function of size and habitat temperature in poikilotherms.Amer. Nat. 88:33–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • READ, K. R. H. 1962. Respiration of the bivalve molluscsMytilus edulis L. andBrachidontes demissus plicatulus Lamarck as a function of size and temperature.Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 7:89–101.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • RISING, T. L., and K. B. ARMITAGE. 1969. Acclimation to temperature by the terrestrial gastropods,Limax maximus andPhilomycus carolinianus: oxygen consumption and temperature preference.Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 30:1091–1114.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ROTTHAUWE, H. W. 1958. Untersuchunger zur Atmungsphysiologie und Osmoregulation beiMytilus edulis mit einem kurzen Anhang über die Blutkonzentration vonDreissensia polymorpha in Abhängigkeit vom Elektrolytgehalt des Aussenmediums.Veroff. Inst. Meeresforsch., Bremerhaven 5:143–159.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • SCHLIEPER, C. 1952. Über die Temperatur-Stoffwechselrelation einiger eurythermer Wassertiere.Verh. dt. Zool. Ges., Suppl 16, S. 267–272.

    Google Scholar 

  • SEGAL, E. 1961. Acclimation in molluscs.Am. Zoologist 1:235–244.

    Google Scholar 

  • SHAW, W. N. 1965. Seasonal setting patterns of five species of bivalves in the Tred Avon River, Maryland.Chesapeake Sci. 6:33–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SNEDECOR, G. W. 1956. Statistical Methods, Iowa State Univ. Press. Ames. 534 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • SPÄRCK, R. 1936. On the relation between metabolism and temperature in some marine lamellibranchs and its zoogeographical significance.Biol. Meddelelser 13:4–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • STANLEY, J. 1963. The Essence of Biometry. McGill Univ. Press, Montreal. 147 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • THORSON, G. 1936. The larval development, growth, and metabolism of arctic marine bottom invertebrates compared with those of other seas.Medd. Grønland 100:1–155.

    Google Scholar 

  • VERNBERG, F. J., C. SCHLIEPER and D. E. SCHNEIDER. 1963. The influence of temperature and salinity on ciliary activity of excised gill tissues of molluscs from North Carolina.Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 8:271–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • VERNBERG, W. B., and W. S. HUNTER. 1961. Studies on oxygen consumption in digenetic trematodes. V. The influence of temperature on three species of adult trematodes.Exptl. Parasitol. 11:34–38.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • WARINNER, J. E., and M. L. BREHMER. 1966. The effects of thermal effluents on marine organisms.Int. Jour. of Air and Water Poll. 10:277–289.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ZEUTHEN, E. 1947. Body size and metabolic rate in the animal kingdom.Compt. rend. lab. Carlsberg., Ser. chim. 26:17–161.

    Google Scholar 

  • — 1953. Oxygen uptake as related to body size in organisms.Quart. Rev. Biol. 28:1–12.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. c/o R. M. Coffin Scientists’ Cliffs, 20676, Port Republic, Maryland

    V. S. Kennedy

  2. Hallowing Point Field Station, Natural Resources Institute, Rt. #1, 20678, Prince Frederick, Maryland

    J. A. Mihursky

Authors
  1. V. S. Kennedy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. A. Mihursky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Supported in part by the Water Resources Research Center, University of Maryland, Project A-002MD and A-011MD.

Contribution No. 473 of the Natural Resources Institute, University of Maryland.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kennedy, V.S., Mihursky, J.A. Effects of temperature on the respiratory metabolism of three Chesapeake Bay bivalves. Chesapeake Science 13, 1–22 (1972). https://doi.org/10.2307/1350546

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1350546

Keywords

Search

Navigation