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The influence of temperature and time of year on the oxygen uptake of the sea mussel Mytilus edulis

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Abstract

In Mytilus edulis L. (Bivalvia), the influence of temperature on oxygen uptake was studied under conditions as natural as possible, with avoidance of temperature adaptation, individual variation, and the feeding of algal monocultures. The density and composition of the phytoplankton used for feeding the mussels was that of coastal water. In the period July–March a linear correlation between oxygen uptake and the sea-water temperature from 3° to 20°C was found. From this, a Q10 of 2.36 was calculated. In the period March–July, when spawning and recovery occur, oxygen uptake was higher than in the autumn at the same water temperatures. In contrast with other studies, a clearly higher oxygen uptake was noted in summer compared with that in winter. This difference is explained by the avoidance of temperature adaptation and acceleration of gametogenesis in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Shellfish Culture, Institute of Fisheries Research, 't Horntje, Texel, The Netherlands

    C. G. N. de Vooys

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  1. C. G. N. de Vooys
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Communicated by O. Kinne, Hamburg

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de Vooys, C.G.N. The influence of temperature and time of year on the oxygen uptake of the sea mussel Mytilus edulis . Marine Biology 36, 25–30 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00388425

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00388425

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