EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON METABOLISM AND HEMOLYMPH PH IN THE CRAB STOLICZIA-ABBOTTI

1. Oxygen consumption, hemolymph pH and total CO, were measured in the crab Stoliczia abbotti following short-term acclimation to temperatur es between 10 and 35-degrees-C. 2.Crabs maintained at 25-degrees-C had an oxygen consumption of 797.7 mul O2.h-1.Q10s between 20 and 35-degr ees-C varied between 1.22 and 2.4. The Q10 between 15 and 20-degrees-C showed a significant increase to 6.03. 3. Hemolymph pH decreased from 7.695 to 7.243 between 17 and 35-degrees-C (-0.025 DELTApH/DELTA-degr ees-C). Between 10 and 17-degrees-C hemolymph pH did not change signif icantly (-0.004 DELTApH/DELTA-degrees-C). Hemolymph C(CO2) did not cha nge significantly with temperature. 4. The correlation between the tem perature (15-20-degrees-C) at which crabs no longer maintain a constan t relative alkalinity and experience a greater than normal reduction i n oxygen consumption is consistent with predictions of the constant ch arge state hypothesis.