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The measurement of respiratory electron-transport-system activity in marine zooplankton

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Abstract

A modification of the tetrazolium reduction method (Packard, 1971) for measurement of respiratory electron transport system activity in marine zooplankton is described. A major modification is the addition of Triton X-100 to the reaction mixture to solubilize formazan produced, thus eliminating an organic extraction step and increasing the sensitivity and versatility of the method. The kinetic parameters of the assay are presented and the apparent effects of Triton X-100 are discussed. The correlation between electron-transport-system (ETS) activity and in vivo respiration (ETS/R) for Calanus pacificus has been found to be 2.02±0.29 (standard deviation). The method is presented as providing a reliable estimate of the zooplankton component of oxygen consumption in the sea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA

    T. G. Owens & F. D. King

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  1. T. G. Owens
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  2. F. D. King
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Communicated by J. Bunt, Miami

Contribution No. 794, Department of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.

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Owens, T.G., King, F.D. The measurement of respiratory electron-transport-system activity in marine zooplankton. Mar. Biol. 30, 27–36 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393750

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