ALLOMETRIC RELATIONSHIPS AND EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE ON CLEARANCE AND OXYGEN-CONSUMPTION RATES OF CRASSOSTREA-GIGAS (THUNBERG)

Clearance and oxygen consumption rates of Crassostrea gigas were inves tigated with animals of 5-200 g total wet weight (0.1-3 g dry tissue w eight), and at different temperatures (5-32 degrees C) after 10 days a cclimation. During this period significant mortalities were observed a t 32 degrees C, which may be close to the upper thermal limit for this species. For each temperature, allometric relationships between physi ological rates and the dry weight (DW, g) of the animal were estimated . Clearance rate (CR, 1 . h(-1)) was maximal at 19 degrees C; oxygen c onsumption rate (VO2, mg O-2 . h(-1)) increased over the range of expe rimental temperatures (T,degrees C). Two statistical models are propos ed: CR = [a-(b(T-c)(2))]*DWd and VO2 = [a+(b*c(T))]*DWd. However, nei ther model is appropriate during the reproductive period.